While most of Florida’s ports have resumed normal operations after the onslaught of Hurricane Milton, Port Tampa Bay remains an exception. As of Friday, the port is still non-operational due to ongoing power outages. Despite avoiding major flooding, the disruption has left the port inactive, with officials working diligently to restore functionality.
Port Tampa Bay officials noted that individual port tenants are deciding independently when to resume their activities. The hurricane, which struck the central Gulf Coast of Florida late on Wednesday, primarily affected the port’s power supply.
In a recent update on their website, Port Tampa Bay conveyed, “We are currently collaborating with our fuel terminal operators to evaluate their facilities and determine their operational readiness. Although our partners have fuel ready for distribution, the lack of power continues to be a hurdle. We are optimistic that the fuel terminals will be operational by Friday.”
Elsewhere in Florida, the ports have fared better. The Jacksonville Port Authority reported minimal impact from Milton, promptly reopening the Port of Jacksonville’s main gates on Friday morning following a thorough assessment of their facilities.
To the south, unaffected by Milton’s trajectory, the Port of Miami reopened on schedule Thursday. The port reported no operational disruptions or redirected cargo vessels due to the storm. Similarly, Port Everglades resumed operations on Thursday with all maritime and ground restrictions lifted by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Port of Miami detailed, “Operations, including cargo yard container movements and rail services, continued without interruption. The storm only necessitated a brief two-day restriction on cargo and cruise vessel traffic, and no cargo diversions occurred.”
As recovery efforts continue, the focus at Port Tampa Bay is on restoring power to ensure a swift return to normal operations, echoing the resilience seen at other Florida ports.
