The U.S. Coast Guard at Sector St. Petersburg is actively preparing for possible marine pollution effects from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. So far, no oil from the spill has reached Florida’s coastline.

“We are working hard to coordinate with all stakeholders well ahead of any impact to our area. If the oil comes this way, we want to seamlessly connect with our partnering agencies and key environmental groups to ensure we are all operating as efficiently as possible,” said Cmdr. Tim Haws, chief of response at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg.

The Coast Guard is working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, federal and state partners to monitor Florida waters from Taylor County to the north to Everglades City near Marco Island to the south. The groups have reviewed highly sensitive areas and prepared pollution response strategies.

St. Petersburg serves as the command post for Florida’s west coast operations due to its location and the number of specialized personnel available to deal with the event. Additional Coast Guard personnel were brought to the command post to prepare for potential spill impacts.

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Preparing For Hurricane Season

It’s hurricane season and Port Manatee is ready.

During hurricane season, June 1^st through Nov. 30^th, Port Manatee operates under the U.S. Coast Guard’s Port Hurricane Condition IV, with all emergency equipment inspected and personnel prepared for severe weather events.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts the season will be “active to extremely active” with 14 to 23 named storms in the Atlantic Basin. Between three and seven of the storms could become major hurricanes rated a Category 3 or higher.

Revisions are complete on the port’s Crisis Communications Manual which outlines procedures and guidelines to follow during various crisis situations, including severe weather conditions. The port’s Crisis Communications Manual was adopted as a best management practice in 2006 by the American Association of Port Authorities.

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Fresh Quest’s Sweet Season

In its first full melon season operating at Port Manatee, Fresh Quest Inc. reports a strong positive performance.

“We actually secured four additional voyages that we didn’t anticipate which meant additional revenue for us and for the port as well,” said Carol Sydnor, logistics and purchasing manager for Fresh Quest Inc.

A premium grower and shipper of Central American melons, Fresh Quest imports cantaloupe and honeydew melons from its farms in Honduras and Guatemala to fill in U.S. production gaps between November and May.

In all, the company imported 64,000 pallets and more than 300 containers of melons destined for grocery stores and markets throughout the Southeast and Northeast United States and Canada.

Fresh Quest is exploring opportunities to import additional fresh produce products to keep Port Manatee operations moving year-round.

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National Maritime Day
Wreath Laying Ceremony

Manatee County Port Authority Chairman Larry Bustle tosses a wreath into the bay at Port Manatee’s Berth 5 to commemorate National Maritime Day. The United States Congress created National Maritime Day in 1933 to recognize sacrifices made by domestic seafarers and the U.S. Merchant Marines. The event is organized each year by the Port Manatee Propeller Club.

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Martin Marietta Makes Mark

Construction on Martin Marietta Materials’ nearly mile-long aggregate conveyor system at Port Manatee is on target with a Sept. 1^st completion date within reach.

The concrete foundation for the ship unloading hopper at Berth 5 is finished with the first of several conveyors nearing completion.

Once complete, the 4,900-foot-long high-speed conveyor system will link Port Manatee’s Berth 5 to Martin Marietta’s new 20-acre aggregate terminal. The system includes seven conveyors and radial stackers which will stockpile granite and limestone into cone-shaped piles for distribution.

The materials, which are imported from the Bahamas and Canada, are used for road-building and to create asphalt and concrete.

The Manatee County Port Authority authorized a 30-year, $42 million contract with Martin Marietta Materials at its December 2009 meeting.

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What Do You Think?

Port Manatee recently launched its newly redesigned website www.portmanatee.com and distributed its first Deepwater E-newsletter. The new tools provide comprehensive port information and timely port developments. If you haven’t already done so, please visit the redesigned website and let port officials know what you think.

If you know someone who may be interested in learning more about Port Manatee, click Forward email at the bottom of this page to send the latest Deepwater issue to their inbox. Those interested may sign up for the newsletter by visiting the port’s website and clicking on Sign Up For E-Newsletter on the right side of the home page.