The acrylic panels for Mississippi Aquarium, the windows to the Aquarium’s habitats, safely arrived on August 15thto Gulfport from Rome, Italy, and are being stored at the Port of Gulfport. The acrylic was manufactured by CLAX Italia, a company that specializes in the manufacturing of acrylic panels for aquariums.
“The arrival of the acrylic is a major milestone in the development of Mississippi Aquarium,” said Mississippi Aquarium President and CEO David J. Kimmel. “I am happy to say the acrylic arrived safely and are now being stored at the Port of Gulfport. We are grateful for our partnership with the Port of Gulfport in making this a smooth process. Having the acrylic here ensures schedule continuity when it is time for them to be installed. This is going to be a world-class aquarium and a point of pride for the entire state of Mississippi.”
The sizes of the acrylic panels vary from the large viewing window for our main habitat, approximately 32 feet x 25 feet and 16 inches thick and weighing more than 40 tons, to the 360 degree walking tunnel that is approximately 30 ft. long x 9 ft in diameter and weighing more than 13.5 tons.
“As we diversify our operations we continue to look for ways the Port of Gulfport can support the region’s business community specifically when it contributes to growing Mississippi’s Blue Economy”, said Port of Gulfport Executive Director and CEO Jonathan Daniels. “The arrival of the acrylic in Gulfport allowed us the unique opportunity to grow a partnership with Mississippi Aquarium, while also showcasing the port’s cargo handling capabilities. We are honored to assist the Aquarium and support the next phase of economic development on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”
About Mississippi Aquarium
Mississippi Aquarium, a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization, is committed to igniting curiosity, compassion, exploration, and an appreciation of our marine environment., Mississippi Aquarium’s mission is to be a premier institution delivering an awe-inspiring experience which supports animal research and conservation, inspires learning, and instills a passion for the aquatic world.
About Port of Gulfport
The Port of Gulfport is an enterprise agency of the state of Mississippi and is committed to providing world-class maritime terminal service to our customers and to facilitate economic growth and jobs for the people of Mississippi through the promotion of domestic and international trade.