With an annual economic impact surpassing $7.2 billion, SeaPort Manatee serves as a ships-to-shelves gateway for Southwest and Central Florida while offering more than 5,000 acres of on-port and adjoining properties for future growth.

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 At Anchor House, our primary focus is on serving these two crucial groups: the seafarers and the dockworkers.

 

SeaPort Manatee can see dozens of ships​ dock weekly at our port and every ship is filled with domestic and international seafarers, modern-day sailors, who find themselves thousands of miles away from home. These international citizens, hailing from diverse corners of the world, spend months at sea, sometimes up to ten months at a stretch. Even when docked, little changes for those on board. Seafarers lacking the necessary visas are restricted from shore passes, confining them to the ship and cramped quarters for extended periods. This is a common scenario for some seafarers each year at SeaPort Manatee. At Anchor House, we deploy appointed chaplains to board the ships and share the Gospel with those who cannot go ashore.

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For the dockworkers, who are residents in the Bay Area, the process of receiving and transporting is incredibly demanding. Yet, as one of the largest economic contributors to the entire region, SeaPort Manatee generates a remarkable $7.2 billion economic impact. This accomplishment is made possible by dedicated workers who, after strenuous efforts, need a place to rest. The facilities at Anchor House are designed precisely for that purpose – providing a haven for dockworkers to unwind from their demanding work. With a comfortable lounge and a small snack bar, we welcome numerous dockworkers who stop by every day.