Port Canaveral Launches 65th Anniversary Tribute With Commemorative Flag Raising at Maritime Center

By  //  June 30, 2018

festivites culminate with November 4 anniversary

Canaveral Port Authority employees gathered on the front lawn of the Port’s Maritime Center to raise a commemorative flag in what will be the first of a series of events acknowledging 65 years of Port Canaveral history, growth and success. (Canaveral Port Authority images)

BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – Canaveral Port Authority employees gathered on the front lawn of the Port’s Maritime Center to raise a commemorative flag in what will be the first of a series of events acknowledging 65 years of Port Canaveral history, growth and success.

Canaveral Port Authority Commissioners, Ambassadors and staff took part in a ceremonial flag raising of a new Port Canaveral anniversary flag, similar to an event held at the Port 65 years ago.

“More than a half-century ago, Port Canaveral launched its operations with military and commercial purposes, but today we are one of the world’s most diverse ports and an important economic asset for the entire Central Florida region,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO.

“I’m proud to join with our employees to acknowledge our past and thank them for their continuous hard work and commitment to making Port Canaveral the world-class gateway it is today.”

AT LEFT: On November 4, 1953, a large gathering of local community, elected officials and members of the military assembled at the west marginal wharf next to the USS McClelland to celebrate the opening of Port Canaveral, a small shrimp, oil and commercial fishing port. AT RIGHT: Today, Port Canaveral is one of the world’s most dynamic and exciting ports – the world’s second-largest cruise Port, and Florida’s third largest by revenues with record-breaking cruise passenger movements and highly diverse cargo operations. (Canaveral Port Authority images)
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Port Canaveral will celebrate 65 years of operation on November 4, 2018.

To commemorate the years of continued success for the Port, the Canaveral Port Authority is planning a series of activities celebrating the Port’s rich history and its role in economic growth and development of the Central Florida region.

On November 4, 1953, a large gathering of local community, elected officials and members of the military assembled at the west marginal wharf next to the USS McClelland to celebrate the opening of Port Canaveral, a small shrimp, oil and commercial fishing port.

Today, Port Canaveral is one of the world’s most dynamic and exciting ports – the world’s second-largest cruise Port, and Florida’s third largest by revenues with record-breaking cruise passenger movements and highly diverse cargo operations.

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Historically, the first 15 years of operation brought immediate change and growth to Port Canaveral:

September 1954 – George King was named the first Port Manager.
June 1955 – the first commercial cargo ship, S/S Mormac Spruce discharged bagged cement.
August 1955 – Tropicana Corporation obtains a lease to construct a refrigerated warehouse to export citrus juice.
April 1965 – Canaveral Lock is dedicated
1968 – Rock shrimping begins at Port Canaveral.

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n November 1947, freeholders of the Port District went to the polls and overwhelmingly approved a bond issue that would pave the way for the digging of Port Canaveral. (Port Canaveral image)

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