Refueling Florida: Tankers Descend on Port Tampa Bay After Reopening

Port Tampa Bay, a critical energy gateway supplying nearly half of Florida’s fuel, has resumed vessel operations following the impact of Hurricane Milton. The port’s shipping channels officially reopened on Saturday, October 12, 2024, with vessel movements restricted to daylight hours and one-way travel.

The U.S. Coast Guard, in coordination with the Port Heavy Weather Advisory Group, set the port condition to normal after detailed assessments of the port, waterways, and channels. This reopening is crucial for Florida’s fuel supply, as more than 40% of the state’s petroleum products typically arrive through Port Tampa Bay and SeaPort Manatee.

Port Tampa Bay said its fuel supply remains adequate, despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Milton. As of Friday, power had been restored to all seven private fuel terminals and safety tests were underway to ensure safe fuel discharge. The majority of fuel terminal operators have begun discharging to fuel trucks, with expectations that all terminals will be operational by the end of the day.

Governor Ron DeSantis reported Saturday that state has over 1.8 million gallons of diesel and over a million gallons of gas on hand with more on the way.

Florida receives most of its fuel via vessel from U.S. Gulf Coast refineries, with some areas getting fuel by truck from Georgia and small portion coming from European imports. The Jones Act requires that nearly 90% of Florida’s refined petroleum products be transported on American vessels from Gulf Coast refineries. Several U.S.-flagged tankers were awaiting entry to the port ahead of its opening on Saturday.

U.S.-flag ship operator Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) said it is mobilizing seven vessels to deliver nearly 50 million gallons of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel to Tampa over the weekend. The vessels include the Overseas Anacortes, set to deliver more than 8 million gallons of gasoline and almost 5 million gallons of diesel by Saturday evening. The Overseas Nikiski is scheduled to arrive Saturday morning, bringing 6 million gallons of jet fuel, 4 million gallons of gasoline, and 2 million gallons of diesel. Overseas Tampa will then return on Sunday, carrying more than 12 million gallons of gasoline.

“Our fleet is ready to meet Florida’s fuel demands and support recovery efforts,” said OSG CEO Sam Norton.

In addition to OSG, Jacksonville-based Crowley Maritime is preparing to deliver approximately 85 million gallons of gas and 28 million gallons of diesel to Florida ports. Eleven Crowley-operated vessels are positioned to dock at reopening ports, including Jacksonville, Port Everglades, and Tampa.

“American maritime vessels unloaded their energy cargoes in Florida immediately before the storm, while others are pre-positioned and reloaded in the Gulf Coast to quickly deliver once the ports open,” said Jennifer Carpenter, President of the American Maritime Partnership.

The reopening of Port Tampa Bay and the influx of fuel shipments are expected to play a crucial role in Florida’s post-hurricane recovery efforts. As the state works to restore normalcy, the efficient distribution of fuel will be essential for powering vehicles, airplanes, and emergency services across the region.

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