Board Of County Commissioners News

Plans to convert the century-old Port of Fort Pierce into a repair and refit facility for the global fleet of megayachts and large sailing yachts are moving full speed ahead.After a lengthy permitting and review process, Derecktor Shipyards has been granted approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners and the City of Fort Pierce to begin construction of its newest shipyard – Derecktor Ft.

Broward County's Port Everglades said it is purchasing three low-profile Super Post Panamax container-handling gantry cranes at $13.8 million each to meet demands from current customers and new services anticipated from the port's multi-million-dollar expansion program. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners approved the $41.4 million crane purchase today, with an option for the seaport to purchase an additional three cranes anytime within five years of placing the order for the first three cranes. "Cargo ships are getting larger and several shipping lines already coming to Port Everglades from Europe and South America need Super Post-Panamax cranes now.

Broward County's Port Everglades has negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that provides the framework for a new long-term business agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (RCL) that will include complete, customized renovations of the Port's Cruise Terminal 25 targeted for completion by October 31, 2018. "Our cruise line customers are becoming more sophisticated in the way they think about the guest experience, as we saw when Royal Caribbean partnered in the construction of Cruise Terminal 18 for their Oasis class of ships," said Port Everglades Chief Executive Steven Cernak. On Monday, RCL announced that its newest Celebrity Cruises ship Celebrity Edge will homeport in Port Everglades beginning in the fall of 2018.

Broward County's Port Everglades is moving forward with a plan to widen and deepen its channels, but there are still several steps to go before construction begins, the Port's Chief Executive Steven Cernak told elected officials and business leaders during an event to celebrate the project's long-awaited approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In addition, Cernak announced that the Corps has committed $1.2 million for the immediate next step, which is the pre-construction engineering and design phase, estimated to cost a total of $5.6 million. "Our Congressional Delegation has taken our message to Capitol Hill with determination and perseverance, so that we can begin the design phase this fall and be ready for construction before receiving Congressional authorization," Cernak said.

Port Everglades is planning for the year 2033 with an updated roadmap for future growth over the next 20 years that identifies $1.6 billion in capital investments to improve productivity for cargo, cruise and petroleum businesses that operate at the South Florida seaport. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners, which governs the Port as a self-funded enterprise fund, approved the Port Everglades 2014 Master/Vision Plan today during its regularly scheduled meeting. Over the past year, Port staff and maritime consultant AECOM Technical Services, Inc. held more than 20 meetings with customers, stakeholders and the general public to develop the Plan. “This is the second update to the original Master/Vision Plan that was adopted in 2006.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta briefed government and business leaders on the progress of the Panama Canal Expansion Program at an event in Miami, Fla. on Nov. 6. Alemán Zubieta confirmed expansion is moving ahead on-time, on-budget and will facilitate trade between the Port of Miami and the Panama Canal. “Expansion is moving ahead as planned and will build a new lane of traffic along the Canal through the construction of a new set of locks. Anticipated to be complete by 2014, the project will double the waterway’s capacity and allow more traffic and wider ships to transit,” said Alemán Zubieta.

What is claimed to be the largest cruise terminal in the world officially opened at Port Everglades on Friday, November 6, one week prior to the arrival of Royal Caribbean International's 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas. Local county and city officials, as well as Royal Caribbean executives, were on hand for the opening celebration. The event also featured Royal Caribbean dancers, who performed a number from the Hairspray musical. “We finished building Cruise Terminal 18 on time and under budget, which is a demonstration of government at its best,” said Port Everglades Director Phil Allen.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Port Everglades yesterday. ACP Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta and Port Everglades Director Phillip C. Allen signed the MOU during a ceremony held in Panama, agreeing to encourage new business and trade between both organizations. By signing the MOU, the ACP and Port Everglades agree to exchange information about their latest modernization efforts. The ACP and Port will also work together to promote maritime trade.

Crowley Liner Services, the first tenant in Port Everglades developing Southport Container Complex and the largest container volume producer, has agreed to reconfigure its leasehold, a move that is strategically beneficial for both Crowley and Port Everglades. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners has approved a recommendation by the Port Everglades Department to relocate a portion of the current leasehold to the south of Crowley’s current terminal. This action makes a prime parcel of dockside land available for leasing to container businesses through a competitive bidding process already underway. The Port received six responses to its Request for Letters of Interest for a new Southport Marine Terminal Operator.

An appointed selection committee unanimously chose Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC) to negotiate a lease and operating agreement for a 36-acre dockside container terminal at Broward County’s Port Everglades. Final approval is subject to consent from the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, the governing authority for Port Everglades. This terminal is expected to generate approximately one-million tons of cargo annually with two weekly services at Port Everglades, according to MSC officials. MSC, of Geneva, Switzerland is a privately owned shipping line, founded in 1970. The company has grown rapidly to become one of the leading global shipping lines.

On May 21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule designating the state waters within the boundaries of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary ("Sanctuary") as a "no discharge zone" (NDZ). The rule takes effect on June 19, 2002. The Florida Keys Water Quality Protection Committee, Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County and Governor Jeb Bush supported the designation in the form of resolutions in 1999 and 2000. EPA concluded that the Sanctuary contains unique marine ecosystems that are a State and national treasure of high ecological, educational, aesthetic, recreational and commercial value. The rule applies to state waters only…

Following months of intense scrutiny, financial due diligence, background checks and equipment review, Ronald C. Rasmus, president of TUGZ International, LLC, is confident his firm meets or exceeds all requirements for securing a franchise permit to provide tugboat and towing services at Port Everglades, Fla. If the franchise is awarded, TUGZ will be the first tug company to compete against Hvide Marine at the Fort Lauderdale port, one of the busiest ports on the eastern seaboard. "Despite its size as Florida's largest port and 5,809 ship calls a year, Port Everglades remains the only major, diversified port in the United States that limits its tug service, by government franchise, to a single tug company," says Mr. Rasmus.

Following months of intense scrutiny, financial due diligence, background checks and equipment review, Ronald C. Rasmus, president of TUGZ International, LLC, is confident his firm meets or exceeds all requirements for securing a franchise permit to provide tugboat and towing services at Port Everglades, Fla. If the franchise is awarded, TUGZ will be the first tug company to compete against Hvide Marine at the Fort Lauderdale port, one of the busiest ports on the eastern seaboard. "Despite its size as Florida's largest port and 5,809 ship calls a year, Port Everglades remains the only major, diversified port in the United States that limits its tug service, by government franchise, to a single tug company," says Mr. Rasmus.

Cruise travel from Broward County's Port Everglades increased by 13.5 percent this past fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2001 through Sept. 30, 2002), greatly contributing to the Port's overall $9.7 million increase in operating revenue. A record 3.5 million passengers sailed to and from Port Everglades in the past fiscal year representing a 12.9 percent increase over the previous year. Cruise revenue increased by 26 percent from $20.4 million in FY2001 to $25.6 million. The greatest increases came from multi-day cruises with the number of passengers increasing 24.9 percent from 2.0 million in FY2001 to 2.5 million in FY2002. Single-day cruises decreased by 7 percent from 1.1 million passengers in FY2001 to 1.0 million passengers in FY2002.

Tugz International L.L.C., an affiliate of the 101-year old The Great Lakes Towing Company, and a member of The Great Lakes Group, announced Tuesday that the Broward County (Florida) Board of County Commissioners, by a 6-3 vote, awarded Tugz a tugboat and towing service franchise for Port Everglades, Florida. This action put an end to the 43-year monopoly on tug service in the port previously held by Seabulk International, Inc., formerly known as Hvide Marine, Inc. "We are really excited about the opportunity to serve this growing, dynamic port," said Tugz President, Ronald C. Rasmus. "The Z-Drive tractor tugs we are providing for Port Everglades…