The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Port Tampa Bay expect deepening to begin in 2028, with completion targeted for 2033. Deepening to 47 feet will allow the port to accommodate deeper draft vessels, creating new opportunities for direct all-water services from Asia and other global trade lanes, says Raul Alfonso, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Port Tampa Bay. Shippers will benefit from greater vessel efficiency, reduced transshipment costs, and improved schedule reliability. “The project will strengthen the port’s position as a major logistics gateway for Florida’s rapidly growing consumer base,” Alfonso explains. “It’s projected to support thousands of construction and maritime jobs, generate hundreds of millions in wages, and unlock billions in trade growth. The expanded capacity will also enhance Florida’s supply chain resilience by keeping more freight flowing through in-state ports.” Port Tampa Bay also continues to invest alongside the deepening project. Recent and ongoing capital improvements include expansion of the container terminal to 100 acres, new truck gates with advanced operating systems, and additional post-Panamax cranes, bringing the total to seven cranes. In addition, the port extended container berths from 3,200 to 4,500 linear feet and added a rail- served transload facility to improve intermodal efficiency.
Recent and ongoing capital improvements at Port Tampa Bay include a project to deepen the channel from 43 feet to 47 feet, expand the container terminal to 100 acres, add new truck gates, extend container berths, and add more post-Panamax cranes.
maritime capacity keeps pace with inland distribution growth. “These investments reflect Port Tampa Bay’s long-term strategy of building ahead of demand,” Alfonso says. “We’re committed to ensuring that our customers—and Florida’s economy— have the infrastructure, capacity, and reliability needed to compete in a changing global marketplace.” With Florida’s population growth projected to reach 25 million by 2030, the combined projects enhance Port Tampa Bay’s strategic location, just minutes away from the majority of the region’s distribution hubs. “We are also able to grow the land size of our port, giving us a strategic advantage of being able to sustain long-term growth,” Alfonso says. “That will cement our role as Florida’s most diversified and strategically located port, serving the state’s booming consumer and industrial economy.” Nearly every major global logistics integrator has a presence in Florida. Home to more than 11,500 logistics and distribution establishments, Florida is the ideal choice for logistics, supply chain, and distribution companies to locate
and for freight to make the journey to its final destination. The broader wholesale trade, transportation, and logistics sector in Florida accounts for more than 63,000 individual entities and employs more than half a million individuals across the state. As the Western Hemisphere’s commercial gateway, Florida is a top choice for any company in search of global access and a direct path to rapidly expanding markets in Latin America and the Caribbean. As part of its plans to “future-proof” these strengths, the state announced major steps for congestion relief in Central Florida, including 17 miles of new express lanes on I-4 in Hillsborough County and a new truck parking facility along the I-4 corridor in Polk County. These express lanes will bring significant congestion relief to the traveling public by separating long- distance traffic from local commuter traffic, providing additional reliable travel options and enhancing the quality of life for residents traveling in the area. This project has officially been programmed within the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) project pipeline and will be advanced by 10 years, with construction expected to begin in 2028.
For shippers, the combination of deeper water and expanded
infrastructure means faster turn times, more reliable vessel schedules, and lower overall logistics costs. The port’s location near Florida’s largest concentration of distribution centers offers efficient truck access across the state and competitive northbound backhaul rates. Meanwhile, Florida is investing heavily in highway, rail, and logistics corridors, including the I-4 and I-75 connectors that link Tampa Bay to Orlando and beyond. The port’s deepening and terminal expansion projects complement these statewide efforts by ensuring
58 Inbound Logistics • November 2025
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