One of Florida’s smaller ports, one that has few commercial prospects currently lined up in anticipation of the expansion of the Panama Canal and gets little federal recognition, the Port of Fort Pierce’s future may now rest with an anticipated four-month study by the state Department of Transportation.

The study is to determine if the small port, which is mostly held by private ownership, has the potential to be designated a Strategic Intermodal System facility, which could mean additional economic cargo opportunities available as the state braces for an expected increase in maritime traffic from the widening of the Panama Canal in 2014.

The Treasure Coast port, which includes a historic downtown district and limited commercial exports, has potential, says Ken Roberts, with the Indian River Terminal Co., which operates the northern St. Lucie County port.

The lack of federal funding is a sticking point for the port, which has been designated an inactive port by federal agencies.

Meanwhile, St. Lucie County has been exploring the options for the 87-acre port, of which just 20 acres are publicly owned and another 12 acres are in the hands of the Indian River Terminal.

The Port of Fort Pierce

Located nearly 50 miles north of the Port of Palm Beach.

The deepwater port was established in 1837 during the Second Seminole Indian War, with the major industries of fishing, fish processing, citrus fruits and pineapples. At one time, the port was the main thoroughfare for grapefruit-exporting to Europe and the Far East.

The Port of Fort Pierce City Marina, fronting the Indian River Lagoon, offers 284 slips.

Cargo

Approximately 358,000 tons of cargo pass through Indian River Terminal annually. By comparison, the Port of Miami handles nearly 7.39 million tons a year, while the Port of Palm Beach deals with 2.55 million tons a year.

Nearly all of the containers -- providing basic supplies -- go to the Bahamas and Caribbean islands, primarily Freeport, Grand Bahama; Providenciales; Turks and Caicos; and Nassau.

Top imports include aragonite and cement.

Cruise: None.

History

1918: The Florida Legislature established the Port of Fort Pierce Inlet District to fund construction and operation of a new inlet between the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean.

1921: The current inlet was dredged.

1935: The harbor was authorized as a federal project and was completed by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1938.

1940s: The federal government used the Port of Fort Pierce for an amphibious training base.

1947: The Florida Legislature abolished the Inlet District, replacing it with the Port of Fort Pierce Port Authority.

1961: The Legislature created the Fort Pierce Port and Airport Authority to operate under the auspices of St. Lucie County.

1988: Florida law created the St. Lucie County Port and Airport Authority.

1996: St. Lucie County purchased about 8 hectares of waterfront property, called Harbour Pointe, for tourism, recreational, and marine commercial uses. The county also operates a public boat ramp in the southern port area.

1998: The Legislature dissolved the Port and Airport authority, transferring its holdings and responsibilities to the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County to operate and manage the Port of Fort Pierce.

Seven questions with Ken Roberts of Indian River Terminal, which runs the Port of Fort Pierce:

SSN: Where does the Port of Fort Pierce view itself in the footprint of Gov. Scott’s dream to attract more growth from the Panama Canal expansion?