The report covers the period from October 2018 through September 2019. It’s a time when Port Tampa Bay broke records for cruise ship passengers. It also welcomed cargo vessels from Asia for the first time. The port set a record for revenue for the third year in a row.
But since the start of the pandemic, cruise business has ground to a halt and cargo shipments have slowed down.
Recent financial statements show revenue is down more than 8 percent for the ten-month period that ended in July.
In a video message, CEO Paul Anderson said Port Tampa Bay can play a part in the economic recovery.
“Cargo must continue to flow,” he said. “This pandemic has accelerated the need for shippers and carriers, who are redoubling their efforts to find a better, more efficient solution.”
All of Florida’s ports are asking Congress for aid as part of the next pandemic relief bill.
