PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday asked all ports in Florida to stand ready to help export relief supplies to Puerto Rico.
Leaders at Port Canaveral confirmed to News 6 they received a call from the governor earlier in the day.
"I assured the governor that Port Canaveral stands ready and willing to assist with any cargo-related efforts," Port Canaveral CEO Capt. John Murray said. "We have a relationship with the Port of Ponce located on the south side of the island, but currently, there is no ocean transportation service between our two ports."
Murray said the port has available berthing, cargo cranes, storage for large containers and storage to consolidate freight.
He said they also have the capabilities and capacity to handle any type of cargo from gasoline, heavy equipment and trucks to pallets of bottled water and medical supplies.
"We're ready to support any ocean carrier that is authorized to transit between Florida and Puerto Rico," he said.
The governor announced he would be traveling Thursday to San Juan, accompanied by Florida National Guard Adjutant General Major General Michael Calhoun, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen and Florida emergency management officials.
A schedule of the governor's visit was being developed overnight.