A message from Port Tampa Bay to our customers, tenants and community
New Maersk Service Makes First Call at Port Tampa Bay
Port Tampa Bay welcomed the vessel SEASPAN LIMA as part of Maersk’s new America Shuttle 2 service on her inaugural call to our port this week. Last fall, Maersk announced plans to add a new weekly container service connecting Port Tampa Bay with Cartagena, Colombia as part of its new global East-West network under the Gemini Cooperation.
Port leaders joined executives from Maersk and Ports America to greet the SEASPAN LIMA’s captain and welcome him and his crew to Tampa Bay with a plaque and key ceremony. Port staff also introduced Maersk to several potential customers during the visit.
The new America Shuttle 2 service dramatically expands the port's connectivity to West Coast South America, East Coast South America, and the Caribbean via Maersk's worldwide network of services. The partnership will expand further, as Hapag-Lloyd joins the service later this quarter.
Port Tampa Bay continues to see double-digit growth in its container business and is the closest port to the I-4 Corridor, home to Florida’s largest concentration of distribution centers (DCs), with over 550 million square feet of space stretching from Tampa to Orlando. Because of the port’s proximity to this huge market in its backyard, customers can make multiple round-trip deliveries per day between the Port and their DCs, resulting in significant savings in truck drayage costs.
Read more about the new service in the Tampa Bay Business Journal: https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2025/03/26/maersk-s-new-route-connects-tampa-to-colombia.html
Port Tampa Bay and Tampa Electric Announce Strategic Land Deal
Tampa Electric and Port Tampa Bay have announced a mutually beneficial land deal involving the sale of nearly 22 acres of waterfront property, marking a significant milestone for both organizations.
Since converting its Bayside Power Station from coal-burning to an efficient natural gas plant in 2003, and as operational efficiencies continue, Tampa Electric does not need the parcel to support electric generation. The transaction supports Tampa Electric’s ongoing work to benefit customers while allowing Port Tampa Bay to identify the best business partners for the marine terminal and to build the port’s diverse lines of business.
“Port Tampa Bay has long considered TECO to be one of our most strategic partners, and we continue to work together to enhance our working waterfront,” said Paul Anderson, Port Tampa Bay president and chief executive officer. “This is a win for both organizations and will bring additional economic opportunities and jobs to the region we serve."
Port Tampa Bay plans to leverage the newly acquired property to build and develop a new maritime, manufacturing, and/or logistics business.
“The port is pleased for the ability to add a marine terminal to our current portfolio of land,” said Raul Alfonso, executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “The addition of 22 acres of land with deep-water access will allow us to grow our diverse lines of business while supporting TECO's efficiency, growth, and long-term plans.”
Make a Difference During the Fifth Annual Great Port Clean-Up
Port Tampa Bay and the Propeller Club of Tampa Bay are proud to be the presenting sponsor of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful’s fifth annual, Great Port Clean-up. This year’s event will take place on April 11, 2025, around the waters of Tampa Bay. Each year, this nationally recognized event continues to grow and make more of an impact on Tampa Bay.
During last year’s event, more than 1,000 volunteers collected more than 100,000 pounds of trash, preventing it from entering the waters of Tampa Bay. In addition, nearly 39,000 pounds of invasive plant species were removed. While the majority of this debris originated from outside of the port, the Port Tampa Bay maritime community is dedicated to doing its part to eliminate marine debris and support trash-free waters in Tampa Bay.
The clean-up will take place at several waterside locations near Port Tampa Bay from 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. To register, contact Chris Cooley at [email protected]
Congratulations to PTB’s VP of Planning, Ram Kancharla
Port Tampa Bay’s Vice President of Planning, Ram Kancharla, has been appointed as a member of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Standing Committee on Ports and Channels. Ram’s term will run from April 2025 to April 2028. The organization plays a vital role in advancing research and innovation in transportation. Our port is proud of our staff who have the opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise on a national scale. Congratulations, Ram!
REGISTER TODAY: PTB’s Annual Golf Tournament
Port Tampa Bay’s 11th annual Golf Tournament has announced this year’s event will take place Friday, April 25, 2025, at the Eagles Golf Club in Odessa. The event benefits Tampa Port Ministries and The Tampa Bay Maritime Scholarship Foundation. In addition to an enjoyable day on the links, the tournament features a 4-person scramble format, which includes on-course contests and some special challenges. After your round of golf, there is an awards banquet, with drawings for raffle prizes.
Registration details and link are available here: https://app.eventcaddy.com/events/11th-annual-port-tampa-bay-partners-golf-tournament-90