Container business is one of the smallest segments in Port Canaveral’s cargo portfolio. Bulk and breakbulk materials, such as lumber and slag, make up the largest portion of the port’s cargo throughput.
Volumes of these raw materials moving through the port have increased over the past year to meet the demand of the fast-growing Central Florida commercial and residential construction boom, with increased roadway, highway, and bridge construction throughout the state.
The diversity of cargo at Port Canaveral requires our ability to maximize berth and uplands suitability and availability for offloading and storage.
During the pandemic, Port Canaveral lost 80 percent of its operating revenue as a result of the cruise industry shutdown. The port was forced to put all capital improvement expenditures on hold and use funds previously reserved for those projects to cover operating expenses.
With the return of cruising at Port Canaveral and very positive FY2022 cruise revenue outlook, the port is reviving its capital improvement plan. An estimated $48 million will be invested in rehabilitating North Cargo Pier 3, a functionally obsolete berth not in use since 2014. The project, which will replace the current outdated pier design with modern marine facilities that can accommodate larger deep draft vessels, is expected to be complete by spring 2023.