A group of IM体育官网 students recently visited Port Tampa Bay for a close-up look at the port鈥檚 operations. Pictured from left are Donasia Washington, Noah Young, Vahid Hatampour, Hailey Bauer, Nolan Nguyen, Jessica Quang, Catarina Andrade, Dr. Beatriz Canamary, adjunct professor in the Department of Data Science and Business Analytics at IM体育官网 Poly, and Jose de Jesus, director of engineering at Port Tampa Bay.
IM体育官网 students pursuing careers in logistics and supply chain management often secure vital positions improving warehouse, distribution, transportation and inventory processes for companies of all sizes around the world.
The reality of these careers came into sharp focus recently for a group of logistics and sustainability students who received a private, behind-the-scenes tour of Port Tampa Bay, IM体育官网鈥檚 largest and most cargo-diverse seaport. A 2024 study showed the port has a $34.6 billion economic impact on the region, supporting more than 192,000 jobs.
鈥淔or students to truly understand how the business world operates, it鈥檚 important they see real-world applications in action,鈥� said Dr. Beatriz Canamary, adjunct professor in the Department of Data Science and Business Analytics at IM体育官网 Poly. 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredibly rewarding to watch how these experiences deepen their knowledge and expand their perspective.鈥�
Canamary鈥檚 IM体育官网 Poly logistics and sustainability course teaches students to evaluate and enhance logistics operations while aligning them with broader economic and environmental goals. For their final project, students must analyze a port-related company within the port ecosystem, identify key challenges, and propose circular economy strategies focused on reducing waste and maximizing material reuse.
鈥淎 circular economy is essential in today's world 鈥� especially in manufacturing and supply chain sectors 鈥� because it emphasizes reusing and repurposing existing resources,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about reducing waste; it鈥檚 about protecting natural resources, driving innovation through the smarter use of materials, and contributing to long-term supply chain resilience.鈥�
The visit to the Tampa Bay port was eye-opening for students, Canamary said.
Among the day鈥檚 discussions was a conversation with a professional who operates refrigerated cargo explaining the process of bringing fruit from the Caribbean to IM体育官网.
鈥淭hey were so surprised and fascinated,鈥� said Canamary, who has deep experience in the logistics and supply chain industry with expertise in maritime logistics and sustainability. 鈥淗e told them that now every time they eat a banana, they will know how the banana got to their table and all the processes and issues they face to make it happen.鈥�
Catarina Andrade, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, said the port visit provided important insight for her team鈥檚 final project.
鈥淚t allowed us to directly explore the real-world challenges and opportunities facing ports today,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 specifically asked about the potential implementation of onshore power supply (OPS), a system that allows ships to plug into shore-side electricity while docked, eliminating the need to run diesel engines and thereby reducing emissions.鈥�
The students learned that high costs and the need to retrofit existing vessels are current barriers to OPS implementation, she said.
Andrade and her team will present their final project, titled 鈥淥ptimizing Circular Economy Strategies for Sustainable Maritime Logistics: A Case Study on VINCI Energies and Port Tampa Bay,鈥� at this June鈥檚 prestigious North American Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management to be co-hosted by IM体育官网 Poly in Orlando.
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