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Central Florida News

06 Feb 2024

Marine Towing of Tampa Acquires Seabulk Towing Assets from Bisso

(Photo: Marine Towing of Tampa)

Marine Towing of Tampa announced it is expanding its ship assist services to Florida's east coast following a deal with E.N. Bisso & Son to acquire towing assets formerly owned by SEACOR Holdings' Seabulk arm.In September 2023, SEACOR divested its U.S. harbor towing operations, selling to Bisso 12 tugs across ports in Florida and Alabama.Under a recently executed asset purchase agreement with Bisso, Marine Towing of Tampa acquired the Port Canaveral operations and assets from the SEACOR-Bisso deal and will operate them in Canaveral under a newly formed affiliate…

30 Aug 2023

Kinder Morgan Says Idalia Caused Minimal Damage to Florida Terminals

(Image: NOAA)

Kinder Morgan KMI.N on Wednesday said its Port Manatee, Port Sutton and Tampaplex terminals in Florida sustained minimal damage due to Hurricane Idalia, and that it was also planning to shut its Charleston area terminals later in the day.The U.S. energy company said it was planning to reopen the terminals on Thursday, while its Tampa facilities including the Tampa refined products terminal and Central Florida Pipeline system have resumed normal operations.The Port Manatee, Port Sutton and Tampaplex terminals handle commodities such as fertilizers…

26 Jun 2023

Taylor Named Austal USA COO for Transformation

Austal USA promoted Christy Taylor to the newly established position of Chief Operating Officer for Transformation.  Photo courtesy Austal USA

Austal USA promoted Christy Taylor to the newly established position of Chief Operating Officer for Transformation. She will report to Austal USA president Rusty Murdaugh, and oversee Human Resources, Production Control, IT and Supply Chain Management operations in addition to other business integration, leadership, and strategy roles. Her focus will be developing and integrating companywide systems and processes while identifying and enabling synergies across these functions…

25 Aug 2022

Port Canaveral to Add New Patrol and Pilot Boats

Photo of a security rapid response boat, similar to the vessel that will be  custom built for the Canaveral Port Authority (Photo: Life Proof Boats)

Port Canaveral will add a new security patrol vessel and a pilot boat after receiving federal grant funding for several projects to protect against terrorism and other security threats.The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $472,500 in Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) funding to allow the Canaveral Port Authority (CPA) to purchase a new Security Rapid Response Boat. The vessel will be a 33-ft. “Life Proof” boat operated…

08 Jun 2021

Port Manatee Hires Tillotson as Chief Commercial Officer

Charles D. Tillotson (Photo: Port Manatee)

As new chief commercial officer of Port Manatee, Charles D. Tillotson looks to bolster diverse cargo growth at the global gateway of Southwest and Central Florida.“Working with the Port Manatee team, my goal is to double the port’s volume of cargo activity over the coming 10 years,” said Tillotson, who brings nearly four decades of maritime industry experience to the position. “We are seeking to build upon Port Manatee’s current trend of record trade by advancing further diverse revenue streams.”Tillotson most recently served as senior vice president of business development for Altamont…

29 Aug 2019

Hurricane Dorian Builds, Aims for Bahamas, Florida

source: NOAA / National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Dorian took aim at the Bahamas and the Florida coast on Thursday, spurred on by warm Atlantic waters as it threatens to strengthen into a dangerous Category 3 storm.Dorian earlier sideswiped the Caribbean without doing major damage but is expected to strengthen and slam the Bahamas and the southeastern United States with rain, strong winds and life-threatening surf over the next few days, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said in an advisory.U.S. President Donald Trump urged Floridians to heed official warnings.

01 Jul 2019

Port Canaveral Wins Funding for Response Vessel

Six ships call on Port Canaveral on May 27, 2019 with 35,111 passengers accommodated in one day. (Photo: Canaveral Port Authority)

New fireboat will provide enhanced firefighting and rescue capabilities for maritime and commercial space. The Canaveral Port Authority will receive $1.5 million in funding from the State of Florida to support the acquisition of a specialized fireboat to provide marine firefighting and rescue capabilities for Port Canaveral and the surrounding communities. Port Canaveral’s Marine Firefighting Rescue Vessel (MFRV) will be purpose built to offer enhanced fire protection and response…

18 Jun 2019

CMA CGM Breaks Tampa Port Vessel Record

Florida's largest port,  Port Tampa Bay has marking a major milestone and partnership with CMA CGM as Port customers, local officials, and business leaders gather to celebrate the inaugural call of the CMA CGM DALILA at The Ports America Terminal.CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics, begin their weekly direct ocean carrier service between Asia and Port Tampa Bay today. CMA CGM's excellent transit times will significantly improve the competitiveness of the region's importers and exporters, transforming Tampa Bay's economic landscape.With a capacity of 8,500 to 9,500 TEUs (container units) per vessel, these are also the largest container ships ever to call at the Port.

07 Apr 2019

New Aframax Tanker Makes First N. American Call

The Aframax tanker ProStar recently made its first North American delivery to discharge 442,131 barrels of jet fuel at Seaport Canaveral."820-foot-long ProStar – first of its kind vessel to berth at Port – makes its inaugural North American delivery of transportation fuels to Seaport Canaveral," the Canaveral Port Authority announced in a statement.Built in 2018, the 144-foot-wide ProStar has a crew of 23 and a summer dead weight tonnage of 115,000 tons.Port Canaveral cargo operations reached another highpoint recently with the arrival of the Aframax tanker ProStar at North Cargo Berth 2 for its first delivery in North America to discharge 442…

21 Feb 2019

Port Tampa Welcomes CMA CGM

Florida's largest port Port Tampa Bay welcome the announcement by the CMA CGM Group, that it will begin serving Port Tampa Bay in late May 2019 on its Pacific Express 3, or PEX3 service.With a presence in 160 countries and a fleet of 506 vessels, CMA CGM serves over 420 ports across the globe and is a member of the Ocean Alliance. The PEX3 port service rotation will be as follows: Singapore – Vung Tau – Hong Kong – Shekou – Ningbo – Shanghai - Busan – Panama Canal - Houston – Mobile – New Orleans – Tampa – Miami – Singapore."We are delighted with this announcement by CMA CGM," said Paul Anderson, Port Tampa Bay President and CEO. "This is a further testament to the growth of the US Gulf market and the significance of the Tampa Bay/I-4 Corridor region…

04 Feb 2019

US' Largest Mobile Harbour Crane at Port Canaveral

Port Canaveral has taken the delivery of mobile harbor crane - 270-foot-tall Liebherr LHM 600 - the largest of its kind in the US.The huge LHM 600 crane arrived at the port on January 18, 2018 aboard the “Happy Dover”, a heavy load carrier and  will be operational in the second quarter of 2019. It joins two 270-foot-tall ship-to-shore cranes in service at the port since 2014.The Canaveral Port Authority purchased the mobile harbor crane to accommodate the Port’s growing diverse cargo throughput, adding handling flexibility and extended lift capability, including heavy cargo and space components for the Port’s cargo operations.“Port Canaveral has added a new dimension to our harbor and cargo management capability,” Port CEO Capt.

26 Mar 2018

Post-Panamax Ro/Ro Makes First US Voyage

(Photo: Port Canaveral)

A new class of post-Panamax (PPX) vessel made its first visit to Port Canaveral, marking the second time this year a vehicle carrier megaship of this size has called on the port. Launched in 2017, the MV Donington PPX roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro) vessel arrived at Port Canaveral as part of its inaugural U.S. itinerary. With its 125-foot beam and capacity to transport over 7,400 vehicles, the Donington is Hoegh Autoliners’ largest Post-Panamax vessel to call on the port. The ship arrived at Port Canaveral, its second U.S. port of call after delivering vehicles to Port Freeport in Texas last week.

22 Dec 2017

Port Canaveral Welcomes Höegh Sydney

Port Canaveral staff were on hand to welcome the captain and crew of the Höegh Sydney roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) vessel on her inaugural visit to the Port. The Sydney’s arrival at Port Canaveral is the first U.S. port call for the vessel on a transit that originated in East Asia. The Höegh Autoliners vessel represents the fourth vehicle carrier to call on Port Canaveral and the first auto imports to arrive direct from Asia. More than 800 cars destined for Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina dealerships arrived at Port Canaveral on the Höegh Sydney and were discharged within six hours of the vessel’s arrival. “The first vehicle to roll off Höegh Sydney signifies Port Canaveral’s entrance into the direct from Asia import market.

14 Nov 2017

BCGP Appoints Bon Fleur as General Manager

Erik Bon Fleur  (Photo: BCGP)

Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) has announced Erik Bon Fleur as its new general manager. In this role, Bon Fleur will be responsible for day-to-day operations and business activities, reporting to Boston Whaler Group President, Nick Stickler. Prior to joining the BCGP team, Bon Fleur served in various other roles inside BCGP’s parent company, Brunswick Corporation, including continuous improvement manager for Boston Whaler, and most recently director of operations for Thunder Jet, an aluminum boat builder in Washington state.

18 Nov 2016

Sea Tow Presents Franchise Awards

Sea Tow Rookie of the Year (Photo: Sea Tow Services)

Sea Tow Services International, Inc., a professional on-water assistance provider, honored members of its national network for outstanding customer service and dedication to boating safety at the Sea Tow Awards Luncheon held on November 17. The event was a highlight of the organization’s 2016 Annual Meeting, which brought Sea Tow operators from across the country to the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort in Orlando from November 14-17, 2016. Sea Tow Franchise of the Year, awarded to the franchise that most exemplifies Sea Tow’s high standards of service and operation…

08 Oct 2016

Hurricane Matthew Death Toll nears 900 in Haiti, Cholera takes lives

Hurricane Matthew's trail of destruction in Haiti stunned those emerging from the aftermath on Friday, with the number of dead soaring to 877, tens of thousands left homeless and outbreaks of cholera already claiming more lives. Information trickled in from remote areas that were cut off by the storm and it became clear that at least 175 people died in villages clustered among the hills and on the coast of Haiti's fertile western tip. Rural clinics overflowed with patients whose wounds including broken bones had not been treated since the storm hit on Tuesday. Food was scarce and at least seven people died of cholera, likely because of flood water mixing with sewage. The storm razed homes to their foundations.

07 Oct 2016

Hurricane Matthew batters Florida, Haiti Death Toll Rises

Storm's eye nears Cape Canaveral. The first major hurricane threatening a direct hit on the United States in more than 10 years lashed Florida on Friday with heavy rains and winds after killing at least 339 people in Haiti on its destructive march north through the Caribbean. Hurricane Matthew packed gusts of 100 miles per hour (160 kph) as it tracked north-northwest along Florida's east coast, the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory. The storm's eye was 25 miles (40 km) east of Cape Canaveral, home to the nation's chief space launch site. "We are seriously ground zero here in Cape Canaveral -- hunkered down, lights flickering, winds are crazy," said resident Sandy Wilk on Twitter.

06 Oct 2016

Hurricane Matthew Strengthens as it Heads for US

Image: National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in nearly a decade, strengthened as it barreled toward the southeastern United States on Thursday after killing at least 140 people, mostly in Haiti, on its deadly northward march. As Matthew blew through the northwestern Bahamas on Thursday en route to Florida's Atlantic coast, it became an "extremely dangerous" hurricane carrying winds of 140 miles per hour (220 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. That made it a Category 4 hurricane and it was likely to remain so as it approached the United States…

19 Sep 2016

GT USA Adds Warehouse At Port Canaveral

Marlin Street Warehouse (Photo: GT USA)

GT USA, operators of Canaveral Cargo Terminal, has expanded its supply chain capabilities to serve shipping lines, along with domestic customers, with the addition of more than 40,000 square feet of covered storage now available at the Marlin Street Warehouse at Port Canaveral. The facility serves as a secure location for general warehousing, providing a full range of logistics services, including trucking, cross docking, storage and inventory control and last mile distribution.

19 Jan 2016

Container Service to Connect Port Canaveral

GT USA, the US arm of UAE-based global ports and logistics company Gulftainer, announced the new ‘Blue Stream Service’, a weekly container cargo service connecting Port Canaveral to Europe, the French West Indies, and Central America. Blue Stream Service, operated by StreamLines, part of the SeaTrade Group, will provide refrigerated and dry container service to and from GT USA’s Canaveral Cargo Terminal, with a focus on fresh produce and perishable cargo. The Blue Stream Service will feature five ships with 1,300 TEU capacity and 250 reefer plugs on a weekly rotation. The new line will serve Central America to Port Canaveral in just three days and will offer the fastest transit time between Florida and Europe, just 11 days.

15 Jan 2016

New Container Terminal Opens at Port Canaveral

Photo courtesy of Canaveral Port Authority

The Canaveral Port Authority welcomes the start of StreamLine’s Blue Stream weekly liner service at its new Canaveral Cargo Terminal, which GT USA manages and operates. The service adds Port Canaveral to this valued trade route that includes Central America, Europe and the Caribbean. The first call at Canaveral is scheduled for January 31, 2016 with the arrival of the M/V Norderoog. StreamLines N.V. part of the Seatrade Group, is a container line providing refrigerated and dry container service specializing in fresh produce and perishables.

18 Sep 2015

NYK to Launch Car Carrier Service from Canaveral

NYK will begin car carrier transport service from Port Canaveral to Central and South Americas, starting October 10, 2015. The first vessel will be the MV Neptune Leader V 65. “With the relatively short trucking distance between Port Canaveral and the numerous auto and heavy equipment auctions located in Central Florida, the NYK service will provide area businesses with cost-effective options and positions us competitively with other Florida seaports,” said Alberto Cabrera, Port Canaveral’s Senior Director of Cargo Business Development. Gary J. Hurley, VP Sales-NYK Line RORO Division, cited growing customer demand in adding Canaveral to NYK's service scope. Ambassador Services Inc.

03 Aug 2015

Norwegian Epic to Sail from Port Canaveral

Norwegian Epic (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

Port Canaveral will homeport Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) largest ship and currently the third largest in the world—the Norwegian Epic—starting in November 2016, offering seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, as well as three- and four-day vacations to the Bahamas in 2017. “As a regular port of call for NCL ships, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to homeport the Norwegian Epic and welcome NCL guests into our community,” said Port Canaveral CEO John E. Walsh.