Bold Florida move

With ongoing congestion in the California ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and record ship numbers waiting to enter these ports, the Florida Ports Council (FPC) is encouraging ships to unlock the logjam by calling on Florida seaports.

In a bold statement on the supply chain crisis, the FPC said: “Clearly, California is no longer the most efficient way to move consumer goods to either the East Coast or even the Midwest. Florida has the capacity to be the more efficient way to connect commerce to those locations.”

Michael Rubin, president and CEO of the FPC, said: “Florida is where your success comes in, and our seaports are the solution to ensure the cargo shipping logjam doesn’t become the grinch that stole Christmas.”

Knock-on effects

The FPC has highlighted the impact the supply chain congestion is having on US operations, including empty shelves, higher prices and consumer fear. The federal government is also lowering economic growth expectations for the fourth quarter, said the FPC.

“With inflation growing, shipping and manufacturing industries can save time and money by calling on Florida ports. Why pay to moor off the coast of California, when Florida shipping lanes are open and serving as the gateway for getting goods to America’s market,” Rubin questioned.

He added: “Florida is open for business, and we are the solution to help resolve the global supply chain crisis. Instead of waiting off the coast of California, cargo vessels can offload and move their product to Florida and other discretionary markets in the same time it takes to find space in an increasingly congested California.”

Earlier this year, Governor Ron DeSantis provided Florida’s 15 seaports with US$250m in stimulus relief to help offset the impacts experienced as a result of the pandemic. This stimulus is in addition to other port infrastructure and connectivity investments made in Florida to increase capacity and ability to move cargo and passengers around the world.

The FPC is a non-profit corporation that serves as the professional association for Florida’s fifteen public seaports and their management.