This commentary appeared in the print edition of the Jan. 6, 2020, Journal of Commerce Annual Review and Outlook.
Across the United States, seaports support more than 30 million jobs and have an economic impact of more than $5 trillion. In my home state of Florida, our ports support almost 1 million jobs and have an annual impact of more than $117 billion.
Recently, in an effort to protect the enormous economic impact of our ports system, the Florida Ports Council (FPC) studied port resiliency regarding threats from sea level rise, hurricanes and other natural disasters, and even cyberattacks and other security threats.
Part of our focus on resiliency included the release of the FPC Seaport Resiliency Report, which showed that Florida already employs innovative practices that increase resiliency, including a memorandum of understanding signed by the state’s seaports to assist one another in the event of a disaster. This could include personnel, equipment, and other resources necessary to recover quickly.
Our 15 seaports have also invested in a single information reporting platform, known as CommandBridge, to connect and share real-time information with each other and key state and federal agencies during and after a critical incident. But the report also makes recommendations for increasing the resiliency of our ports — from the property to the businesses to the employees — from potential threats.
Next up in 2020, the FPC plans to release a study focusing on alternative fuels. Stricter air quality standards, primarily adopted by the International Maritime Organization, that apply to port operations and maritime vessels in US and international waters are driving the industry toward alternative fuels as a cost-effective and reliable way to be in compliance.
While the state of Florida’s seaports remain strong, we will continue to invest in port infrastructure and analyze trade opportunities. This dedication allows us to better position Florida as a global hub for trade and further our designation as the gateway to the Americas.