Port Manatee

Port Manatee is a county-owned deepwater seaport located in the eastern Gulf of Mexico at the entrance to Tampa Bay in northern Manatee County, Florida. It is one of Florida's largest deepwater seaports and also regarded as the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the Panama Canal. The port handles a variety of bulk, breakbulk, containerized, and heavy-lift project cargoes.
History.
Manatee County bought in 1965 to launch a Barge Port and Industrial Port. The Florida Legislature established the Manatee County Port Authority (MCPA) which is the governing body for the port, in the same year. During the early 2000's Regal Cruises sailed from Port Manatee to the Western Caribbean using the MS Regal Empress. They ceased operations in 2003 and no cruise line has used the Port since then.
Port Manatee imports and exports.
Port Manatee handles approximately 8 million tons of cargo each year.