Cast adrift: Florida's ports left out of pandemic relief packages

The grievous toll the coronavirus pandemic has exacted on Florida’s restaurants, hotels and other hospitality businesses has been well documented. Now new data reveals that another important sector — shipping and ports — has also been severely harmed. 

According to a press release issued by the Florida Ports Council, the pandemic stands to wipe out some 169,000 jobs and $23 billion in economic activity related to the state’s ports. Shipments of liquid bulk, dry bulk and containerized cargo are down drastically, and the cruise ship industry’s passenger count is expected to drop by five million by the end of the year.