Port of Gulfport Designated Strategic Seaport
The Port of Gulfport is now designated as a military strategic seaport, one of only 17 in the nation.
With this status, America’s military will now be able to move cargo and personnel through the Port of Gulfport. Before the designation of Gulfport, there was no strategic port from Port Arthur in Beaumont, Texas all the way to Jacksonville, Florida. Now, Gulfport fills that gap while saving taxpayer dollars.
Port of Gulfport Executive Director Jonathan Daniels said, “They did send an auditor down to make sure that we were capable of being able to handle that type of cargo and to do it efficiently. Ultimately, that cargo was put on a truck and was shipped two miles to the north to the Seabee base. Instead of sending it hundreds of miles away, we get the opportunity to be able to handle Gulfport’s cargo through the Port of Gulfport for the military. That is going to save taxpayer funding.”
This also means the port is one step closer to their federal requirement to create 1,300 jobs by bringing in more vessels to carry military cargo. This will also mean more hours for longshoremen at the port.
With this status, America’s military will now be able to move cargo and personnel through the Port of Gulfport. Before the designation of Gulfport, there was no strategic port from Port Arthur in Beaumont, Texas all the way to Jacksonville, Florida. Now, Gulfport fills that gap while saving taxpayer dollars.
Port of Gulfport Executive Director Jonathan Daniels said, “They did send an auditor down to make sure that we were capable of being able to handle that type of cargo and to do it efficiently. Ultimately, that cargo was put on a truck and was shipped two miles to the north to the Seabee base. Instead of sending it hundreds of miles away, we get the opportunity to be able to handle Gulfport’s cargo through the Port of Gulfport for the military. That is going to save taxpayer funding.”
This also means the port is one step closer to their federal requirement to create 1,300 jobs by bringing in more vessels to carry military cargo. This will also mean more hours for longshoremen at the port.
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