SeaPort Manatee, one of Florida’s largest deepwater seaports, has been awarded a federal grant of nearly US$12 million to advance a 67,000m² expansion of container yard facilities at Florida Gulf Coast trade gateway.

The upgraded infrastructure of SeaPort Manatee is one of 26 projects for which a total of US$1.5 billion in Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant funding was announced by US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

At SeaPort Manatee, the federal investment of US$11,953,492 is to be used toward the design and construction of 67,000m² of additional cargo-handling space and a new container yard access road, as well as for installation of electrical systems for two new mobile harbor cranes that arrived at the port in April.

The INFRA money is being augmented by state and local funds, including equal sums of US$2,147,650 each from a Florida Department of Transportation grant and from SeaPort Manatee revenue.

SeaPort Manatee said it can now proceed to solicit bids for the expansion project, with an eye toward commencing construction in 2023 and completing the work in 2025.

This latest phase of expansion is to augment 72,800m² of container yard already completed adjacent to SeaPort Manatee’s berths 12 and 14, plus 26,800m² under construction slated for mid-2023 completion.

The earlier phases of the endeavor have moved forward thanks to federal, state and local funding totaling more than US$18 million, according to a port’s statement.