Buchanan receives maritime honor

The Port Manatee Propeller Club honored U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, with its highest honor as Maritime Person of the Year during ceremonies March 11 at the Bradenton Yacht Club.

Buchanan was honored for his ongoing support of Port Manatee, including his pledge to assist port officials with the proposed Port Manatee Connector Road directly linking Interstate 75 to the port, which would increase containerized shipping.

A member of the Congressional Friends of Panama Caucus, Buchanan is working to ratify the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement, and he’s enhanced Port Manatee’s ties with Panama, building upon the port’s 2009 strategic alliance with the Panama Canal Authority.

In February, Buchanan also hosted a port visit by the Panamanian Ambassador to the United States, Jaime Eduardo Alemán Healy.

Said Buchanan in a statement: “I am honored to receive this award. Jobs and the economy are the most important issue right now, and Port Manatee is vital to our efforts to diversify the region’s economy and create good-paying jobs.”

Serving Florida’s 13th Congressional District, Buchanan is in his second term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].