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TAMPA, Fla., (July 7, 2017) —Port Tampa Bay (PTB) adds another national award to its mantel as the 2017 American Metal Market’s Logistics/Transportation Provider of the Year. The Port was recognized for its expertise and efficiency in handling steel products in front of more than 300 industry peers in New York City during the American Metal Market Awards for Steel Excellence ceremony.

PTB is the state’s largest port for handling steel products and home to the nationally-acclaimed Tampa Steel Conference that attracts hundreds of industry leaders annually, which PTB has organized for the past 28 years.

Wade Elliott, VP of marketing & business development for the Port, cites the booming construction and building industry, as well as the region’s manufacturing and industrial sectors as important factors behind the growing demand for steel. “For the first six months of Fiscal Year 2017, the Port has seen its steel tonnage increase by 73 percent, while shipments of scrap metal are up by 107 percent,” Elliott said.

A major driver for this business is the significant growth of the Tampa Bay/Orlando I-4 Corridor region, home to almost half of Florida’s 20 million residents and welcoming more than 70 million tourists a year.

To accommodate this growth in a safe and efficient method, PTB and its terminal operator partner Ports America, developed the Tampa Cooperative Safety and Security Initiative (TCSSI). While TCSSI’s initial focus was the Port’s core steel business, the organization has since expanded to encompass all the Port’s lines of business with a growing membership that includes shipping lines and agents, trucking and stevedoring companies, government agencies and law enforcement. 

"Steel is an essential line of business at Port Tampa Bay", said Paul Anderson, Port Tampa Bay president and CEO. "We are honored to receive this prestigious recognition by AMM, which reflects the significance of the steel industry in Florida and our many customers, industry partners and tenants.” 

This year’s AMM award comes on the heels of the Port’ 2016 recognition as ‘North American Port Operator of the Year’ by the prestigious Lloyd’s List maritime publication.

 

About Tampa Cooperative Safety and Security Initiative

Port Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay International Terminals and Ports America developed the Tampa Cooperative Safety and Security Initiative to increase safety awareness throughout the Port, assist in workers’ compensation programs and provide compliance with government safety standards. Members include the Port, Ports America, trucking companies, oil terminals, surveyors, shipping lines, shipping agents, line handling companies, bulk terminals, railroad companies and many other related companies with a stake in the Port.

About Port Tampa Bay

Port Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest port and the largest economic engine in west central Florida, supporting nearly 85,000 jobs and generating over $17 billion in annual economic impact. In addition to being a top 10 U.S. cruise port, the port handles a wide array of bulk, break bulk, containers and roll-on/roll-off cargoes, and is a major shipbuilding and repair center. Port Tampa Bay was honored as 2016 Best Port Operator by Lloyd’s List. For more information, visit www.portTB.com.