The Emirati operator Gulftainer, a subsidiary of Crescent Enterprises, has signed a 35-year concession with Port Canaveral to manage its container and multi-purpose cargo terminal located in Brevard County, Florida, United States.

The company has committed to invest US$100 million in infrastructure, equipment and human capital throughout the concession period. The Port Canaveral terminal is set to commence operations in the fourth quarter of this year and it is expected to contribute US$280 million in revenue.

 Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises, stated:

By bringing Gulftainer's UAE-grown expertise and global relationships to Port Canaveral, we aim to create a new efficient and secure gateway for goods entering and leaving the southern Atlantic coastline of America.

John Walsh, CEO of Canaveral Port, stated:

With work on the widening and deepening of the Canaveral Harbour currently in progress, the new container and multi-purpose cargo terminal will further underscore our credentials as one of the most important economic engines for our region. The arrival of larger ships and increased cargo handling will add significant value to Florida's economy. Ports operated by Gulftainer are ranked first in Europe, Middle East and Africa and third globally in productivity by the Journal of Commerce Port Productivity Report 2013.

Port Canaveral is a cruise, cargo and naval port in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As a deep water cargo port, it has a high volume of traffic. Over 2,700,000 tons of bulk cargo moves through each year. Common cargo includes cement, petroleum and aggregate.

There is 70,000 m2 of covered freight storage capacity. The port exports fresh citrus; bulk frozen citrus juice stored in one of the largest freezer warehouses in the state; cement and building materials. The port receives lumber, salt for water softening, automobiles, and steel sheet and plate.