Port Everglades to begin the largest expansion project in its history

Broward County’s Port Everglades has received unanimous approval from the Broward County Board of County Commissioners to begin a $437.5m expansion project to add new berths for larger cargo ships and install crane rail infrastructure for new Super Post-Panamax cranes.

The port handles a wide range of products and at the moment, one fifth of Florida’s energy requirements comes from petroleum stored and distributed by companies located at the port.

Currently, Port Everglades is berth constrained and additional dock space for cargo ships is needed, especially as the Port has become Florida’s leader for containerised cargo volumes.

The Southport Turning Notch Expansion (STNE) project will lengthen the existing deep-water turn-around area for cargo ships from approximately 900 feet to 2,400 feet, which will allow for up to five new cargo berths. The existing gantry crane rails will be extended to the full length of the extended Turning Notch berth to use the existing cranes. A separate agreement to purchase three new Super Post-Panamax container gantry cranes, to be delivered in 2019, and an option to purchase two or three additional cranes, will be presented to the Broward County Commission in June.

Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director, Steven Cernak said: “The Southport Turning Notch Extension was identified as a critical project in our 2006 Master/Vision Plan. We will now be able to meet the demands of our current customers and work with them to grow their businesses, in addition to providing the infrastructure necessary to attract new customers.”

For more information visit www.porteverglades.net

30th May 2017