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The port traces its roots back to the Beeline Ferry which was located north of present-day Port Manatee on Piney Point Road. The ferry transported cars and passengers from Piney Point Road to St. Petersburg in the 1940s and ‘50s. Ferry service ended after the completion of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

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After the Beeline Ferry closed, Bradenton realtor Bob Kessler looked south from the Piney Point ferry landing in the early 1950s and envisioned a thriving seaport to promote trade and commerce and create new jobs in Manatee County. In 1965, Manatee County purchased 357 acres near Piney Point for $900 an acre to launch the Barge Port and Industrial Port, later renamed Port Manatee. The port was dedicated on Oct. 29, 1970.

Bob Kessler Groundbreaking, Oct. 29, 1970

History


A fertilizer ship, M/V Fermland, was the first vessel to dock at Port Manatee on Aug. 7, 1970. In the 1970s Port Manatee primarily served the phosphate and petroleum industries. Petroleum tank farms and fertilizer warehouses dotted the landscape where little else existed. In the 1980s, the port diversified its commodities, adding fruit, plywood, and metal.

M/V Fermland Port Manatee, 1970s

History


Cruise ships began sailing from Port Manatee in the 1990s. A cruise terminal and baggage handling area were built to accommodate thousands of passengers who boarded The Regal Empress during cruise seasons. Cruise service was discontinued in 2003 due to increased cruise industry competition and increased security costs after Sept. 11th.

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Today the port has expanded its cargo to include fertilizer, fuel, fruit juices, lumber, aggregates, cement, steel, aluminum, other metals, and fruit. The Port Manatee terminal is Fresh Del Monte Produce’s second largest U.S. facility.

http://www.freshdelmonte.com/

http://www.freshdelmonte.com/

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Cargo Ships


Cargo ships, sometimes known as freighters, are any types of vessels that carry goods or materials from one port to another. Ship crews may live onboard from three to eight months at a time.

Cargo Ships


Cargo ships are equipped to carry different types of cargo. Bulk cargo is loose cargo, either dry or liquid, that is loaded directly into the ships’ cargo holds. Breakbulk cargo is stored in boxes, bags or pallets. Containers are the rectangular storage units you see on the back of semi-trucks. Containers are the most versatile method of shipping – they can hold almost anything from food to clothing to cars.

Orange juice ship -- Bulk

Pineapples -- Breakbulk

Bananas -- Containers

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RO/RO Ships


RO/RO ships transport vehicles. RO/RO is short for roll on/roll off. Vehicles can be driven from the dock directly into a side hatch of the ship, allowing the ship to be loaded quickly.

Barges


The difference between ships and barges is ships have their own engines, barges do not. A barge must be pulled by a tug boat. Since barges move slower than most cargo ships, the cargo tends to be large, heavy, and non-perishable. Barges also are used to carry fuel from Port Manatee to the Port of Tampa to fill up the cruise ships between voyages.

Tug Boats


Tug boats help guide ships into Port Manatee by pushing, pulling and maneuvering them into place until docked. A three-person crew lives onboard a tugboat for seven days at a time.

Cranes


The Port’s Gottwald mobile harbor cranes are used to move containers and heavy cargo. Each crane weighs approximately 460 tons. Each one can deadlift 100 tons or the equivalent of two Boeing 747 jumbo jets.

Cranes


The cranes were custom manufactured in Germany. They were custom shipped in large sections and assembled at the port. The first crane arrived in 2007 and was one of the first cranes of its kind to be used in the United States. Its mobility, large size, and strong lifting capacity set it apart from most traditional cranes.

Cranes


Crane Fast Facts

• 257 feet from ground to top of boom when extended

• On a clear day the cranes can be spotted from the Sunshine Skyway bridge – located several miles away

• Cameras are mounted throughout each crane to monitor cargo lifts and movements

Cranes


Crane Fast Facts

• Has 28 wheels

• Goes about 3 mph

• Operator uses a remote control to move the crane around as he walks next to it. He can move it from one berth to another -- wherever the ships are.

Tours


Free public tram tours offer visitors a look behind the scenes at Port Manatee. Tours are available Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays from late October until mid-May. The open air tram can accommodate up to 70 people.

Tours


Tram tours are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Security protocols require that all reservations be made at least one week in advance. When making a reservation, be prepared to provide the date of birth, email address and contact information for each person in your party. A government-issued photo ID is required at check-in.

Tours


Tour reservations can be made online at www.portmanatee.com or by calling 941-722-6621. For groups of six or more please make your reservations by phone.

http://www.portmanatee.com/

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