Reaching the World

Sailing Ahead

Ongoing improvements at Florida’s 14 deepwater seaports keep domestic and international cargo flowing smoothly into and out of the state.

» Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale)
Construction is on schedule for the opening of the world’s largest single-ship cruise terminal at Port Everglades in fall 2009. At a cost of $75 million, the 240,000-square-foot Terminal 18 will feature 90 check-in counters, 3,000 seats and a children’s play area for guests waiting to embark on Royal Caribbean International’s new 5,400-passenger sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, launching from Port Everglades in December 2009 and December 2010, respectively.

» Port of Miami
The Florida Department of Transportation expects in October 2009 to issue a notice to proceed on design and construction of a $1.5-billion tunnel linking the Port of Miami to the MacArthur Causeway and I-395. The project, which is expected to generate hundreds of jobs, will help ease the passage of cargo flowing through the port and lessen congestion along surrounding streets.

» Port of Tampa
In June 2009, the Florida Department of Transportation announced plans to build a dedicated truck ramp from the Port of Tampa to the Interstate highway system as part of the $600-million Interstate 4—Crosstown Expressway Connector project that is scheduled for completion in 2014. Meanwhile, work will be completed by November 2009 on 14.5 acres of additional paved storage, bringing the port’s total container terminal area to 40 acres.

» Port of Jacksonville
Representatives from JAXPORT and the Hanjin Shipping Company of Seoul, South Korea, have signed a 30-year lease agreement for construction of a 90-acre container facility at the Dames Point Marine Terminal. The $300-million project is expected to open in late 2011. In July 2009, JAXPORT received a $3-million grant from the U.S. DOT to upgrade the St. Johns River Ferry gantry ramp systems; the manual mechanisms at each ferry terminal ramp will be replaced with more reliable hydraulic systems.

» Port Manatee
Port Manatee’s stature as an emerging container port took a leap forward in May 2009 when officials from the port and the Panama Canal Authority signed a two-year strategic alliance to encourage trade between the two and establish a platform for collaborative marketing and information sharing. The move comes as part of Port Manatee’s ongoing efforts to increase its ability to handle the larger “post-Panamax” ships that are expected to call when the Panama Canal’s $5.24-billion expansion is completed in 2014.

» Port Canaveral
Royal Caribbean’s new Freedom of the Seas — the world’s largest cruise ship with a carrying capacity of 5,728 passengers and crew — began sailing out of Port Canaveral in May 2009. In anticipation of this and the arrival of two new Disney cruise ships in 2011, the port has launched a $7.8-million project to widen and deepen the West Turning Basin.

Florida seaports, including Port Everglades, are getting ready to handle “post-Panamax” ships. [Photo: Port Everglades]

Tags: Business Florida