Happening next week: New Maersk Service to make First Call

Next week, Port Tampa Bay will welcome the vessel SEASPAN LIMA as part of Maersk’s new America Shuttle 2 service on her inaugural call to our port. Last fall, Maersk announced plans to add a new weekly container service connecting Port Tampa Bay with Cartagena, Colombia as part of its new global East-West network under the Gemini Cooperation. The new America Shuttle 2 service dramatically expands the port's connectivity to West Coast South America, East Coast South America, and the Caribbean via Maersk's worldwide network of services. The partnership will expand further, as Hapag-Lloyd joins the service later this quarter. 

Port Tampa Bay continues to see double-digit growth in its container business and is the closest port to the I-4 Corridor, home to Florida’s largest concentration of distribution centers (DCs), with over 550 million square feet of space stretching from Tampa to Orlando. Because of the port’s proximity to this huge market in its backyard, customers can make multiple round-trip deliveries per day between the Port and their DCs, resulting in significant savings in truck drayage costs.

Luxury Cruise Brand Regent Seven Seas Cruises to Visit Tampa

Port Tampa Bay will welcome the luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas Cruise to Tampa March 23-24, 2025 as an overnight port-of-call of their ship, the Navigator. The cruise line, owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, will make her first visit this year, followed by additional calls leaving and/or returning to Tampa in 2026.

The March 2025 visit will be the first for Seven Seas Navigator and will be celebrated with a special Plaque and Key ceremony between the ship’s Captain and select crew, as well as Port leaders.

The Regent Seven Seas Cruises experience includes unique culinary experiences, luxurious staterooms, elevated onboard activities, and an overall enriched experience.

Visit Tampa Bay and its members including Busch Gardens, Zoo Tampa, Florida Aquarium, International Plaza Mall, and Manthe Hospitality (Pirate Water Taxi, Craft, Yacht Starship) will be on hand to help direct visitors to some of the best attractions in our region. Although a majority of the port’s cruise business are homeport calls, occasionally Tampa is showcased during ports-of-call on occasion.

Time is running out: PTB’s Annual Golf Tournament

Port Tampa Bay’s 11th annual Golf Tournament has announced this year’s event will take place Friday, April 25, 2025, at the Eagles Golf Club in Odessa. The event benefits Tampa Port Ministries and The Tampa Bay Maritime Scholarship Foundation. In addition to an enjoyable day on the links, the tournament features a 4-person scramble format, which includes on-course contests and some special challenges. After your round of golf, there is an awards banquet, with drawings for raffle prizes.

Registration details and link are available here: https://app.eventcaddy.com/events/11th-annual-port-tampa-bay-partners-golf-tournament-90

Save the Date: PTB’s March Board Meeting 

The next regular business meeting of the Tampa Port Authority, d/b/a Port Tampa Bay, Board of Commissioners will be conducted in person. The meeting will be held at Port Tampa Bay’s Joseph Garcia International Center (1101 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602).      

The March 25, 2025, meeting will have a quorum of Board members physically in attendance. 

Anyone who wishes to speak during the meeting may do so by signing the Public Comments sign-in sheet that will be provided near the entrance of the Boardroom on the meeting day. The Chair will call on speakers by name in the order in which they have completed the online Public Comment Form. Up to three (3) minutes are allowed for each speaker.