Irma Kills Eight on Saint Martin
At least half of Puerto Rico's island without power; storm likely to hit Florida Saturday or Sunday. Hurricane Irma killed eight people on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin and left Barbuda devastated on Thursday as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in a century took aim at Florida. Television footage of the Franco-Dutch island of Saint Martin showed a damaged marina with boats tossed into piles, submerged streets and flooded homes. Power was knocked out on Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy and in parts of the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. "It is an enormous disaster, 95 percent of the island is destroyed. I am in shock," Daniel Gibbs, chairman of a local council on Saint Martin, told Radio Caribbean International.
PortMiami Dredging Clears Way for Mega Ships
The completion of the PortMiami deep dredge project, which deepens the port’s main harbor channel from 42 feet to a depth of 52 feet to accommodate Post-Panamax ships, was announced by Florida Governor Rick Scott. Of the total $220 million cost for the channel deepening, the state of Florida invested $112 million and Miami-Dade County invested $108 million. Governor Scott announced plans to fully fund the $77 million federal shortfall for the port dredging project in March 2011 so that Florida could take advantage of enhanced international trade with the widening of the Panama Canal.
Miami Shipping Alliance Opposes Beckham's Soccer Arena Plan
An alliance of shipping interests and a billionaire car dealer launched a newspaper ad on Monday protesting retired English soccer star David Beckham's plans for a soccer arena at the port of Miami, saying it threatens the city's plans to capitalize on the expansion of the Panama Canal. "We cannot jeopardize well-paying jobs, like crane operators, longshore workers, and mechanics, for low-paying stadium jobs, such as concession sales," the Miami Seaport Alliance said in a full-page ad that ran in the Miami Herald and its sister Spanish-language paper, El Nuevo Herald. The group, led by John Fox, who has retired as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's head of governmental affairs…
USDA Extends Hours at PortMiami
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new extended hours of operations at PortMiami. The new hours are scheduled to begin on June 16, Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and beginning in January on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is a change from the current hours of operation, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday only, which at times have proven to slow the transport and delivery of goods arriving at PortMiami. The USDA realizes the importance of Miami as a perishables hub for the United States and the need for expansion as perishable volumes increase. “As the Perishables Gateway to the Americas, PortMiami needs to ensure the quick and efficient flow of time sensitive goods”, said PortMiami Director Bill Johnson.
