The land was known as the Wainwright Shipyard because of the high production of ships and tankers created for World War II from July 1942 to 1945.

By 1945, the Panama City Port Authority was created, which helped the government convert the shipyard into a dismantling area for ships for scrap.

[5] During the 1950s, the port authority started granting leasing areas for industrial development.

Formal operations for the current port were developed in 1967 with the creation of a deepwater berth - a pierspace capable of accommodating a Panamax sized ship.

Further developments included warehouses, cargo equipment, and tenant bases, which helped the port expand.