kurt

http://www.portpanamacityusa.com

Port Panama City.
Located on the Gulf coast in Florida's panhandle, this port specializes in breakbulk cargo plus some dry bulk products. The Port has become a catalyst for industrial development in Northwest Florida.
Governing Body: Panama City Port Authority
Mission:
Expand economic opportunities in the City of Panama City, Bay County, Northwest Florida, and the state by providing modern port facilities, promoting trade, and supporting industrial development. Major Goals and Objectives:
•General cargo enhancements. • Bulk cargo facility enhancements. • Preparation for cruise operations. • Industrial Park development. Primary Needs:
• Completion of the current south dock expansion. • Completion of the dredging project associated with the south dock expansion. • Additional property for cargo storage. • Additional warehouse space. • Funding to expand the Industrial Park. Hinterland Served:
Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. Trading Partners:
Central America, South America, the Far East (China), the Mediterranean and Europe. Principal Activities and Products:
Break bulk and bulk terminal service, Industrial Park development, and Foreign Trade Zone operations. Exports:
Linerboard, woodpulp, machinery, and miscellaneous general cargo. Imports:
Steel plate, steel coils, lumber, copper and bulk aggregates. Current (FY 2003/2004) and Projected (FY 2008/2009) Throughputs:
Cargo (tons): Current - .9 million. Projected - 1.5 million. Cargo (TEUs): Current - None. Projected - 40,000. Cruise (revenue passengers): Current - None. Projected - 150,000.

kurt

Some in Miami-Dade see competition in Panama-to-Panhandle shipping route

Quote:

Some Miami-Dade commissioners are warily eyeing the Florida Panhandle as competition for international trade. They last month passed a measure urging the state "to make infrastructure investments in the Port of Miami and other existing large seaports in Florida, rather than provide funding for the substantial expansion of the Port of Panama City in Florida's Panhandle." Commissioner José "Pepe" Diaz, spearheading the push, said he fears the Panama Canal Authority plans to point cargo through the soon-to-be-expanded Panama Canal straight to the Panhandle, a route that avoids the loop around Cuba that trips to South Florida require — potentially siphoning jobs and money from Miami-Dade. On a visit to Panama, Mr. Diaz said the canal authority gave a presentation in which "they expressed that they have created a new link that will go straight up to the Panhandle, and that it will be in their opinion more efficient and better, and they're going to make a lot of revenue." A spokesman for the canal authority did not respond to a request for more information on a Panama City link. The county's resolution says "proposals have surfaced to make a substantial infrastructure investment in the Port of Panama City, a small seaport in the Florida Panhandle that would compete with the Port of Miami and other existing large Florida seaports not only for cargo and cruise passenger business, but also for state funding." Wayne Stubbs, executive director of Port Panama City, said the Northwest Florida port does not have a major expansion in store. The port has been making annual improvements, and "we are looking for opportunities to keep growing," he said, but "nothing very dramatic." The port has been adding facilities to increase capacity and is in the process of permitting a "marginal extension" of one berth, but there's no room to expand the port's area on site, he said. The Panama City port's channel is 36 feet deep and already accommodates ships out of Panama, so the port probably won't increase its depth, Mr. Stubbs added. In the works in Panama is a multi-billion-dollar project set to double the canal's capacity to make way for larger ships. At the Port of Miami — the closest port in the US to the Panama Canal — officials hope to more than double cargo numbers by dredging the 5.5-mile south channel into the port to 50 feet deep to make way for the new, larger ships for which the canal is preparing. Though Panama City isn't working on a similar initiative, Mr. Stubbs acknowledged "we would be a good gateway port" and a straight-shot from Panama. Port of Miami Director Bill Johnson in an e-mail said he does not comment on other ports and their initiatives. "Competition is competition; and there is plenty of it. That's why the POM is continually working to improve: reduce operating costs, enhance service and provide the best facilities to our customers." He did say, though, that "it's important for this community to understand the importance of its port — the huge impact it has on our economy. It is equally important that we understand the need to improve our facilities, to improve accessÖ to deepen our cargo harbor to 50 feet — these are the things to grow our port and add billions to our economy." The county's resolution says expanding the Panama City seaport "could simply divert cargo and cruise passenger business from the Port of Miami and other existing large Florida seaports rather than add new business in Florida." It directs county lobbyists to push for state funding to the local port and asks the county's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include the item in its legislative package. Intergovernmental Affairs Director Joe Rasco said he's seen "no concrete development, but obviously there is a push to develop that port further in the Panama City area and also an airport." A new Panama City-Bay County International Airport is to open next year a short barge trip away from Port Panama City. Miami-Dade Commissioner Javier Souto said he fears the area is "going to steal our lunch." Members of Florida's Great Northwest, an economic development agency representing 16 counties in Northwest Florida, are in Panama on a trade mission now — a partially state-funded trip that has aroused suspicion among some local elected officials. But the idea isn't to press a specific Panama City to Panama link, said Cristie Kedroski, senior vice president of marketing and operations for Great Northwest. "We'd like to expand port activity here in Northwest Florida," she said — the whole region, not just in Panama City. Though the Port of Miami last month renewed a trade partnership with the Panama Canal Authority, the Great Northwest area does not have a "sister" port relationship to date. "We've got some work ahead of us in terms of expanding our international trade," Ms. Kedroski said. Grants from state economic development agency Enterprise Florida in part backed the mission, but several areas around the state received similar funding — including $350,000 to Miami-area agencies last summer. It's also not uncommon for Enterprise Florida to help localities organize trips, said Stuart Doyle, director of communications. "Many times when organizations plan a trade mission, sometimes we help them with it — we offer support, guidance, since this is what we do on a regular basis," he said. The offer stands for areas everywhere in Florida. "We're equal opportunity all around this state. We wouldn't promote one area over the other," Mr. Doyle said. Mr. Rasco of the county's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs said his department will be monitoring state activity in the Panama City area "so as it competes with funding at our port, we will certainly keep an eye on it and we will make sure funding is equitable based on the position our port has presently in the state."

kurt

Port St. Joe lease will re-open port

kurt

Canal Expansion Program - PanCanal.com

The program consists in the construction of two new sets of locks - one on the Pacific and one on the Atlantic side of the Canal. Each lock will have three chambers and each chamber will have three water reutilization basins.
The program also entails the widening and deepening of existing navigational channels in Gatun Lake and the deepening of Culebra Cut.
In order to open a new 6.1 km-long access channel to connect the Pacific locks and the Culebra Cut, five dry excavation projects will be executed.

Joe

Thanks for all the info Kurt. Does this mean cruise ships are coming?

Current (FY 2003/2004) and Projected (FY 2008/2009) Throughputs:
Cargo (tons): Current - .9 million. Projected - 1.5 million. Cargo (TEUs): Current - None. Projected - 40,000. Cruise (revenue passengers): Current - None. Projected - 150,000.

DuneLaker

Interesting how time changes business opportunities. This looks to be very good for the entire Northwest Florida, Emerald Coast region. Joe was reluctant a few years ago to do this deal. I was having lunch at the lovely Port St. Joe marina some time ago, and locals were discussing how Joe probably didn't want port traffic interfering with the view and lunches of resort clientele. Now it seems the lunch bunch will be glad to see some port activity if it helps out their home value.

kurt

I think Disney or and/or some other major lines will be setting sail from PPC. Also gambling cruises most likely.

Smiling JOe

Disney is reported to have another small cruise ship under construction. I have no idea where it might be based. Keep in mind that behind Disney World, Panama City Beach is the number two, drive to destination in the state of Florida, and I think, the southeastern United States. It would make sense for a cruise industry setting sail from Port Panama City, when they increase their capacity.

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kurt

I heard a rumor awhile ago that there is a tunnel from the new airport to the port currently being dug which would have a Disney bullet train traveling back and forth.

I don't believe that one, but no doubt there will be a few helicopters, buses, and taxis making the trip.

Smiling JOe

Kurt, you may not be far off base with that underwater bullet train. A while back, either the NW FL Transportation Corridor Authority or the Airport Authority had mentioned vague info on what sounded like would be a planned express route to move freight between the new airport and Port Panama City. It made no mention of what type of express system, underwater, light rail, designated road, etc, but it did make me wonder.

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BeachSiO2

There are more and more federal dollars becoming available for all types of transportation projects with the new administration. Considering this would also have an economic development angle, I wouldn't be surprised at all if you start seeing some transportation money for rail, transit, etc. heading this way as the airport gets further along.

MissCritter

Finally, some welcome good news for our area!

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SWGB

The cruise ship rumor has been circulating for years. The great thing is the PPC doesn't have a height limitation like some other ports. The only issue is depth and width. The other issue is cruise ship facilities. The Port has quite limited space currently. If you've ever toured it it's not exactly a place I would want to don my tropical shirt and black socked sandaled feet. However, I can see check in at the new airport followed by a quick tour bus trip to board a cruise ship. Many have called the new airport a Mickey Mouse operation, I wonder how right they'll turn out to be?

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kurt

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