A message from Port Tampa Bay to our customers, tenants and community
CEO Paul Anderson Visits MacDill Air Force Base
Port Tampa Bay had the honor of visiting MacDill Air Force Base this week as part of an exchange with our military partners. President & CEO Paul Anderson, who serves as an Honorary Base Commander, was hosted by Colonel Robert P. “Mags” Magee, Commander of the 6th Mission Support Group.
Colonel Magee commands more than 1,700 people assigned to six squadrons and supports U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Central Command, and 32 other mission partners. He is responsible for maintaining 658 facilities, supporting a base population of 16,800 military and civilians, and overseeing more than $475 million in military construction projects.
Earlier this summer, Port Tampa Bay hosted Colonel Magee at the port, and this week’s visit represented the second half of that exchange. During the visit, Paul and the team met with base staff and saw multiple departments in action, including Explosive Ordnance Disposal, drones, security operations, and waterborne operations.
As a port where more than 20% of our staff are veterans, we are proud to maintain such a strong partnership with MacDill Air Force Base, reflecting our shared commitment to service, security, and community.
Congressional Staff Visits to Port Tampa Bay
Port Tampa Bay welcomed staff members from the offices of Congresswoman Laurel Lee and Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna. These visits provided an opportunity to highlight the port’s role as Florida’s largest and most cargo-diverse port, share updates on infrastructure investments, and discuss how we continue to strengthen supply chains, create jobs, and drive economic growth for our region. We look forward to continued engagement with both offices.
Bay News 9 Covers Channel Dredging Project
Port Tampa Bay’s channel deepening and widening project is moving into its second phase, ensuring safer and more efficient navigation for larger vessels that are critical to Florida’s economy. Bay News 9 recently highlighted this important infrastructure project in a feature story that included an interview with Patrick Blair, Port Tampa Bay’s Vice President of Engineering.
You can watch the full segment here: Bay News 9 – Port Tampa Bay Begins 2nd Phase of Major Channel Project
Engaging the Next Generation Workforce: University of Tampa Partnership
This semester, Port Tampa Bay is participating in the University of Tampa’s Business Strategy course, giving students the opportunity to gain real-world insights into the maritime and logistics industry.
To help the students learn more about port operations, we invited them to join an educational harbor tour with some of our key tenants and senior staff aboard the Yacht Starship. This hands-on experience allowed students to ask questions, see port operations up close, and better understand why Port Tampa Bay is the largest economic driver in West Central Florida.
As part of our ongoing community engagement, tickets also went on sale today at 10:00 a.m. for the next Quarterly Educational Harbor Tour, co-hosted by our Port and Real Estate Department. This free public event will take place on Friday, October 10, 2025, aboard the Yacht Starship. These quarterly tours provide an opportunity for the public to meet port tenants, hear directly from our leadership, and learn more about the work we do every day.
Recognizing National Maritime Day 2025
This week, Port Tampa Bay joined in observing National Maritime Day 2025, which highlights the vital role of the maritime industry in our global economy and national security.
This year’s theme, “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity”, underscores both the responsibility and the opportunity we share in protecting and sustaining the ocean as a critical resource. At Port Tampa Bay, this theme mirrors our ongoing commitment to preserving the waters that enable us to support the global supply chain, power Florida’s economy, and safeguard the ecosystems we all depend on.
Upcoming Events: Florida Supply Chain Summit & Breakbulk Americas
Port Tampa Bay will be represented at two major industry gatherings next week:
- Florida Supply Chain Summit (Sept. 30–Oct. 2 in Orlando, FL) – This event brings together industry leaders from across Florida to discuss strategies that strengthen and advance our state’s supply chain networks. Learn more at floridasupplychainsummit.com.
- Breakbulk Americas (Sept. 30–Oct. 2 in Houston, TX) – The largest trade event in the Americas for the project cargo and breakbulk industry. Port Tampa Bay is proud to join maritime, logistics, and transportation leaders to promote our capabilities and partnerships. Details at americas.breakbulk.com.
Reminder: October Port Tampa Bay Board Meeting
The next regular business meeting of the Tampa Port Authority, d/b/a Port Tampa Bay, Board of Commissioners will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at Port Tampa Bay’s Joseph Garcia International Center (1101 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602).
Anyone who wishes to speak during the meeting may do so by signing the Public Comments sign-in sheet provided near the entrance of the Boardroom on the meeting day. The Chair will call on speakers by name in the order they signed in. Each speaker has up to three (3) minutes.
More details: Port Tampa Bay Board Meeting Notice
Stay Connected
Stay tuned for next week’s update as we share highlights from the Florida Supply Chain Summit and Breakbulk Americas. In the meantime, follow Port Tampa Bay on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X for the latest news and updates.
