Florida niche port aiming to build on mini-hub status

Fernandina Beach, the most northerly city on the Atlantic coast of Florida, with a colourful history going back to French colonial times, is making a name for itself yet again thanks to the rapidly rising prominence of its multipurpose deepwater port.

A growing number of shippers in the Caribbean region are taking advantage of the transshipment services offered by the Port of Fernandina, which has found a successful niche for itself as a mini-hub for Central and South American trade to and from North Florida and the south-east Atlantic region in general.

The Port of Fernandina handled over 290,000 tons of cargo last year and is on course to double this in 2019. 

“Our business plans call for the Port of Fernandina to focus on becoming a hub for the Caribbean trade,” says Christopher T. Ragucci, chief executive of Worldwide Terminals Fernandina. “We can provide higher levels of service and hands-on management here at Fernandina that is not available for Caribbean shippers at other South Atlantic ports that cater to the mega-containership trade.”

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