Port Manatee Wins Marine Highway Grant

PALMETTO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Port Manatee will share $3.34 million in grant funds with the Port of Brownsville, Texas for their successful joint application supporting U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s America’s Marine Highway Initiative.

The Cross Gulf Container Expansion Project – an existing container-on-barge service operating between the ports of Manatee and Brownsville – is one of eight projects first designated in August by Secretary LaHood to compete for $7 million in marine highway grant funds. The funds awarded to Manatee and Brownsville will be used to enhance marine terminal equipment, infrastructure and barges to improve frequency of service and efficiencies provided by route operator SeaBridge Freight.

SeaBridge Freight initiated the service in late-2008 and has since conducted 44 voyages between the two ports. The funds will accelerate SeaBridge Freight’s plan to improve frequency of service from 10 to five-days. A five-day sailing cycle may attract new customers.

“These projects demonstrate how water transportation can help solve some of our toughest transportation challenges,” said Secretary LaHood. “Transporting goods by water will let us reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Secretary LaHood’s announcement is important for two reasons,” explained Port Manatee’s Executive Director David L. McDonald PPM. “It confirms the Secretary’s confidence in the Cross Gulf Container Expansion Project and brings into focus the environmental benefits of SeaBridge’s operation.”

SeaBridge estimates the existing tug and barge service reduces diesel consumption by 70,000 gallons per voyage from trucks removed from the I-10 corridor because of the service and saves nearly 18 million truck miles annually.