Port Everglades has handled 1m teu for the third consecutive year, reporting a total of almost 1.04m teu according to preliminary data for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016.
However, the total is 2% lower than the 1.06m teu handled in the previous fiscal year, which port officials attribute to “market fluctuations”.
Major milestones for the port in the past year include renewing long-term agreements with three major terminal operators – Florida International Terminal, LLC (FIT), King Ocean Services Limited (Cayman Islands) Inc., and Crowley Liner Services.
In addition, NYK Line has launched its new, monthly “Magellan Straits Express” South America roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) service from Port Everglades.
With regards to capital improvements, the State of Florida has allocated more than $125m in state grants to Port Everglades’ expansion efforts over the next five years.
On the waterside, the US Army Corps of Engineers has approved a long-awaited economic and environmental report that cleared the way for the port to begin the preconstruction engineering and design phase to deepen and widen its channels from 42 ft to 48-50 ft.
Additionally, the port’s Southport Turning Notch Extension project will lengthen the existing deep-water turn-around area for cargo ships from 900 ft to 2,400 ft, resulting in up to five new cargo berths.
The port will also be adding up to six new super post-Panamax gantry cranes in Southport.
Source: Container Management (LF)
Source: Container Management