Port Manatee’s Second
Container Crane Arrives

The 94-foot-tall, 58-ton tower portion of Port Manatee’s second mobile harbor container crane is lifted off the M/V Beluga Endeavor. When fully assembled the crane will be 257 feet high, weighing-in at 420 tons.

Port Manatee’s second mobile harbor container crane arrived today from Gottwald Port Technology’s factory in Germany.

The 420-ton crane arrived onboard the M/V Beluga Endeavor and is being discharged today and assembled onsite by its sister crane, which was delivered in November 2007.

The purchase of the second crane is the result of a public private partnership between the MCPA and Logistec USA Inc. The two also partnered for the purchase of the port’s first Gottwald 6407 mobile harbor container crane.

Under the terms of the acquisition and operation agreement, Logistec purchased the $4 million crane. Once it is certified and operational, the Manatee County Port Authority has 90 days to pay Logistec half of the total purchase price. The port’s half comes from state transportation grants.

The crane, which is expected to be operational sometime in late August, will be titled to the authority and capable of working at multiple berth locations. The agreement also includes a profit-sharing plan earning additional revenue for Port Manatee based on the crane’s annual hours of operation.

A unique feature of the lease/purchase agreement guarantees positive income for the port over all fixed costs during the 15-year life of the partnership, by leasing the crane back to Logistec for more than the authority’s monthly installment.

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HRK’s New Dry Bulk Terminal Is
Big News For Encouragement Zone

A railroad enhancement project at HRK’s Eastport Terminal is complete and three brand new dry bulk warehouses used for storing and moving various grades of fertilizer products are nearing completion.

HRK’s Eastport Terminal is nearing completion of a multi-million-dollar warehouse and rail project, bucking recent economic concerns and traditional international shipping trends to become the first development in the Port Manatee Encouragement Zone.

HRK predicts the project represents the first of perhaps dozens of new warehouses within the Manatee County-supported encouragement zone, many of which may sprout-up along Eastport Terminal’s seven miles of railroad track.

The warehouses are designed to store imported fertilizer, arriving at adjacent Port Manatee by ship. Florida’s fertilizer industry has long enjoyed a reputation for exporting fertilizers around the globe, but HRK’s customer intends to establish itself as an importer, challenging traditional thinking.

“This is a big project because the fertilizer industry is looking closely at it,” said Jeff Barath, Eastport Terminal project manager.

HRK’s customer, Lake City, Fla.-based Mayo Fertilizer, will begin importing several different types of product through Port Manatee in October. The fertilizer will be discharged from vessels by stevedoring company Logistec USA Inc., then hauled to Eastport Terminal for storage and then delivered via truck or rail to various Florida blending facilities — ultimately reaching farmers throughout the Southeast.

“This is the biggest fertilizer development in Florida and perhaps the Southeast and it’s providing large exposure for Manatee County.” Barath explained. “The cooperation and willingness of the Manatee County Port Authority, port staff and county officials to work with local developers was key to this project coming together. This will be a huge boost to the local economy, in my opinion.”

He has reason to be optimistic. The Eastport Terminal property recently completed an operations and rehabilitation plan on its rail line with direct access to CSX’s mainline rail.

The project features three new dome warehouses, totaling 121,000 square feet and boasting 40,000 tons of fertilizer storage. It also features a state-of-the-art automated conveyor system. The facilities are slated to be fully operational in the first quarter of 2011.

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Container Repair Service
Available at Port Manatee

WCS Assistant Operations Manager Alberto Benitez writes up an order as Mechanic Onelio Santos repairs a chassis at Port Manatee.

Containers undergo significant wear and tear as they criss-cross the globe by road, rail and sea. A new company at Port Manatee is working to keep containers in tip-top shape and get them back into service quickly.

World Container Services provides maintenance and repair of containers, chassis and generator sets at Port Manatee. The company has a full-service mobile repair shop to meet the needs of shipping, trucking and other related companies.

Although new to Port Manatee, the company’s management team has more than 30 years of experience in the business. World Container Services currently operates at other Florida ports including Port Everglades, JAXPORT, and the Port of Miami.

For more information about World Container Services, contact Roman Benitez at 305-400-4850 or rbenitez@worldcontainerservices.com.

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Ship Shape Showcase Coming

Mark your calendars for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Ship Shape Showcase taking place at Port Manatee’s cruise terminal building Thursday, July 15^th from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend the event which features dozens of local business exhibitors, hors d’oeuvres, music, door prizes and a cash bar. Free bus tours of the port will be offered every 40 minutes.

The Ship Shape Showcase gives local business owners a chance to promote their goods and services and it gives officials an opportunity to educate the community about the positive economic impact the port has on the region and the state.

All chamber members and guests, and members of the port community are invited to attend. The showcase is a chamber of commerce event and is not open to the public. For exhibitor information, please contact Elba Viruet at the Manatee Chamber of Commerce at elbav@manateechamber.com.

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