The Florida Ports Council called on shipping companies to look to the Sunshine State for solutions as ports across the nation, especially in California, are seeing record backlogs.
In recent days, more than 60 cargo ships have been stuck in limbo, waiting to unload containers in California ports.
Michael Rubin, the president and CEO of the Florida Ports Council, said, with the holiday shopping season about to start, shipping companies have other options, including the more than a dozen ports across the Sunshine State.
“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,” Rubin said on Wednesday. “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?”
“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,” the Florida Ports Council noted. “Global suppliers of sneakers, furniture, toilet paper, sporting goods, toys, artificial Christmas trees and more, are literally stuck off the coast of California, waiting days and weeks to offload their cargo. As a result, many store shelves are bare, prices are on the rise, the federal government is lowering economic growth expectations for the fourth quarter, and many Americans fear they soon won’t have access to essential products, or Christmas gifts for loved ones.”
Rubin pointed to recent investments in Florida’s ports, including $250 million in relief authorized by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year.
“This stimulus is in addition to other port infrastructure and connectivity investments made in Florida to increase our capacity and ability to move cargo and passengers around the world – Florida continues to invest in the infrastructure to become the pier to the world,” the Florida Ports Council noted.
“Florida is open for business, and we are the solution to help resolve the global supply chain crisis,” Rubin said. “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.”
GD
October 7, 2021, 11:57 am at 11:57 am
How incompetent they are only just getting to this? It’s been a problem over 2 yrs now Florida ports should be full.
Lee
October 7, 2021, 12:07 pm at 12:07 pm
You don’t have to wait in line @ the Panama Canal?
Anonymous
October 7, 2021, 7:37 pm at 7:37 pm
Happy to see Florida step up. Our country shouldn’t suffer because of idiot liberals in California!!!!
Lew
October 8, 2021, 4:00 pm at 4:00 pm
Go back to watching Kardashians, Boomer.
SusieQ
October 8, 2021, 6:15 pm at 6:15 pm
Triggered much?😅
dee
October 8, 2021, 6:30 pm at 6:30 pm
The problem with California is that its democrat run. They gain by having us being forced to not get groceries. They impress upon us that THEY are in control and we have no rights.
Anonymous
October 9, 2021, 7:57 am at 7:57 am
Seriously. Damn people have become nasty
Anonymous
October 9, 2021, 12:40 pm at 12:40 pm
They must be granted port of entry by the federal government agency CBP & that’s where the problem is.
A deliberate act to affect shipping by the biden administration.
Adrienne
October 9, 2021, 8:37 pm at 8:37 pm
Amen!
Ann
October 10, 2021, 6:27 pm at 6:27 pm
It’s part of their master plans, to bring us to our KNEES……NOT GOING TO WORK, IF WE ALL STICK TOGETHER, AND NOT LET THIS CORRUPT FAKE GOVERNMENT DESTROY OUR COUNTRY…❤🇺🇸
Anonymous
October 11, 2021, 8:49 pm at 8:49 pm
Agree
Joe M Pugliese
October 13, 2021, 7:47 am at 7:47 am
Many of the ships waiting to unload on the west coast are unable to get to Florida as they are too big for the Panama canal. It will take a change to using smaller ships for that to work, but I applaud the possibility.
Anonymous
October 13, 2021, 3:26 pm at 3:26 pm
Thank you DeSantis…
T.
October 13, 2021, 4:28 pm at 4:28 pm
People need to know what makes the world work truckers,containers longshoreman
Anonymous
October 13, 2021, 10:41 pm at 10:41 pm
in all that time they have been sitting there paying, they could have swung around
Anonymous
October 14, 2021, 10:56 am at 10:56 am
Do you honestly think that big shipping and logistics companies haven’t done the cost calculations re going to FL vs mooring off west coast? It’s a complex issue that everyone wants an easy answer for. Don’t you get it? Political class right and left gets you to play blame the other guy game rather than solve big problems. Suckers!
Anonymous
October 15, 2021, 8:25 am at 8:25 am
And then people would complain about the even higher added costs for shipping due to fuel.
HeadinSand
October 15, 2021, 8:27 am at 8:27 am
Exactly. Politicians use everything to sucker their sheep. Whether be red or blue.
Anonymous
October 15, 2021, 10:00 am at 10:00 am
Amen!!
It Wil Not Work
October 19, 2021, 3:56 pm at 3:56 pm
The Panama Canal was expanded for bigger ships in 2016. The original canal locks are 110 feet (33 meters) wide and ten times as long. … In spite of that giant leap forward in 2016, the world’s largest container ships – that can carry 18,000 shipping containers – can’t pass through the Panama Canal.
It Will Not work
October 19, 2021, 3:57 pm at 3:57 pm
The Panama Canal was expanded for bigger ships in 2016. The original canal locks are 110 feet (33 meters) wide and ten times as long. … In spite of that giant leap forward in 2016, the world’s largest container ships – that can carry 18,000 shipping containers – can’t pass through the Panama Canal.
4spam
October 22, 2021, 8:17 am at 8:17 am
Because because they don’t have to fear someone punching them in the nose over the Internet
Aaa
October 29, 2021, 7:42 pm at 7:42 pm
Petty! You understood it, didn’t you? Petty!