One FDOT - Seaport Office
Florida is home to 15 publicly owned deepwater seaports, which provide essential cargo handling services to support the operations of businesses and subtropical lifestyles of residents and visitors. Our seaports are located at the crossroads of east-west trade due to our proximity to the Panama Canal, and they are also at the mid-point of the north-south trade lanes along the eastern coasts of the Americas. Our location enables our seaports to serve as gateways for international trade. They also serve as principle points of access for cruise passengers to the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic destinations.
The Florida Department of Transportation’s Seaport team works with Florida's deepwater seaports to collaborate on planning and funding strategic seaport projects. Examples of these strategic projects include deepening and widening navigation channels; procurement of modern cargo handling equipment; and, rehabilitation or development of facilities. These projects are often significant investments and matching grants allows the state to leverage non-state funding, which means that we are able to accomplish more and go farther by working together with our seaport partners. And, because many seaport projects have a design life of more than 30 years, seaport projects result in multi-generational economic impacts.
FDOT’s Seaport team works hard behind the scenes so that the department can make crucial investments in seaport infrastructure and keep Florida moving.