The Port of Pensacola is in talks to establish an inland port north of downtown, with the city preparing a grant proposal for Triumph Gulf Coast to acquire land for the project.
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves told the Pensacola News Journal, “So we’re excited about the idea of the inland port because that allows us to continue to grow industry and grow jobs at the port of Pensacola, while being able to move, expand and relocate additional port-type activities, but not have to do it on such a finite piece of land.”
Currently, one significant part of operations at the Port of Pensacola involves storing goods such as wind turbines from the GE Vernova plant. These products are later shipped by train or truck rather than by sea. An inland facility would provide more storage space elsewhere and could help increase revenue for the port.
Port Director Lance Scott said, “I’m kind of stuffed to the gills, which is a good thing when you look at our storage fees, but for us to grow — and recognize that we’re downtown, and how we responsibly do that and operate as a cargo port, because that is my goal — that inland port is kind of my road map to additional capacity and revenue without impacting the downtown footprint.”
Developing an inland port will involve several stages. The first step is purchasing suitable land; after acquisition, officials plan to optimize its use.
While similar plans were discussed before without moving forward, a 2008 University of West Florida Haas Center study determined an inland port could be feasible if cargo volume or value increased. The study estimated construction would bring $19.8 million in economic impact (about $37.9 million adjusted for inflation) and annual operations would add $18.8 million (now about $35.9 million) each year.
