Port Canaveral plans container expansion

   Port Canaveral said it will receive $9.7 million from the state of Florida to help pay for expansion of its container facilities.
   A large cruise ship port, Port Canaveral primarily handles bulk and breakbulk cargo.
   As part of overall expansion, including widening and deepening its channel beginning this fall, Port Canaveral is constructing two new cargo berths and has purchased two new post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes.
   In a speech to the annual convention of the American Association of Port Authorities, held in Port Canaveral last month, Gov. Rick Scott said he will recommend to the Florida legislature that $35 million in port projects be included in the state’s Department of Transportation work program.
   In addition to the container terminal work in Canaveral, Scott is recommending $14.7 million be provided to Port Everglades for construction of a turning notch and $10.4 million be provided to the Port of Tampa to improve its container yard.
   “With this nearly $35 million commitment for critical port projects, we’ll enhance our ports’ ability to move more goods which will position Florida to play an even greater role in global trade,” Scott said.