National Maritime Day to be held in Jacksonville, highlighting economic benefits for Florida

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — America’s Maritime industry has bolstered Florida’s economy to the tune of adding 65,000-plus jobs and bringing in more than $14.6 billion nationally and to the Sunshine State, according to a recent study by PwC on behalf of the Transportation Institute.

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To celebrate the positive impact Florida Secretary of Commerce Laura DiBella will join the American Maritime Partnership (AMP) and the Florida Maritime Partnership in Jacksonville on National Maritime Day, Mon., May 22. The event will highlight the economic benefits that the over 65,000 men and women of American maritime bring to the nation and to Florida.

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The Maritime Day observance will be held next to the Lone Sailor Statue on the Southbank Riverwalk. The statue was erected in 1988 and was created by sculptor Stanley Bleifeld. Blefeld is also responsible for the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington D.C. which honors America’s Sea Services.

The event is scheduled to take place at 12 p.m. at 1400 Riverplace Blvd.

May 22 was declared National Maritime Day in 1933 to honor the SS Savannah’s departure from Georgia to England in 1819. It became the first successful steam-powered ship to successfully cross any ocean.

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Since the SS Savannah’s ocean crossing voyage, the American maritime industry has served as a critical economic engine in the United States and an essential partner with U.S. armed forces in local and global waterways.