Florida Department Of Transportation News

Houston based dredging and marine construction contractor Orion Group Holdings – Marine Group has become a member of trade group the Dredging Contractors of America (DCA).Orion has a near 100-year legacy and today ranks among market leaders in the provision of dredging services to keep waterways serviceable and to expand ports and other marine infrastructure throughout the United States, territories and Caribbean. The company works to create beneficial marsh habitats, dredging…

JAXPORT has promoted infrastructure development leader James Bennett, P.E., to the role of chief operating officer (COO). Bennett is a licensed professional engineer with more than three decades of transportation industry experience.Bennett joined JAXPORT in 2017 as senior director of engineering and construction, responsible for the port’s marine and landside infrastructure development and engineering and construction operations. In this role, he managed the completion of JAXPORT’s major growth projects…

The project to deepen 11 miles of the federal shipping channel from the sea buoy to JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal to a depth of 47 feet from its previous depth of 40 feet has been completed. Federal, state, and local leaders joined JAXPORT and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District to celebrate the project's completion.The 47-foot harbor provides the channel depth needed for larger ships to call Blount Island to and from destinations worldwide and allows existing ships calling Jacksonville to carry more cargo on board.

Florida’s largest container port achieved record volumes in containers, vehicles and overall tonnage during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019.The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) moved more than 1.338 million twenty-foot equivalent units (or TEUs, the industry standard for measuring containers), a 5 percent increase over 2018, which was also a record year in container volumes for the port. JAXPORT has set container volume records for four consecutive years.The port also moved the most vehicles in its history…

The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT), Florida,  said that its Chief Executive Officer Eric Green and other port executives welcomed Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault for an update on port growth and a waterside tour of ongoing port projects.JAXPORT said that the visit included a look at how the projects—from berth enhancements to Mile Point and harbor deepening—work together to make Jacksonville’s seaport more competitive, bringing jobs and revenue to Northeast Florida.The tour began with a stop at Berths 33 and 34, currently under construction at the SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal at Blount Island.

Port Canaveral has taken the delivery of mobile harbor crane - 270-foot-tall Liebherr LHM 600 - the largest of its kind in the US.The huge LHM 600 crane arrived at the port on January 18, 2018 aboard the “Happy Dover”, a heavy load carrier and  will be operational in the second quarter of 2019. It joins two 270-foot-tall ship-to-shore cranes in service at the port since 2014.The Canaveral Port Authority purchased the mobile harbor crane to accommodate the Port’s growing diverse cargo throughput, adding handling flexibility and extended lift capability, including heavy cargo and space components for the Port’s cargo operations.“Port Canaveral has added a new dimension to our harbor and cargo management capability,” Port CEO Capt.

Port Tampa Bay approved a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with four other entities to divvy up who will pay for a $60 million widening and extension of the Big Bend Channel. The strategic partners include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Tampa Electric Co. and Mosaic Co., a global fertilizer company which is one of port's largest tenants along with Tampa Electric. The port's board of commissioners unanimously approved the participation agreement at a monthly meeting on Tuesday. The Big Bend Channel connects to the Tampa Harbor main channel and will be deepened from 34 feet to 43 feet and widened from 200 feet to 250 feet to accommodate larger 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.

Broward County's Port Everglades has partnered with public and private entities on several multimillion-dollar landside infrastructure improvements designed to improve connections with South Florida's major highway and railroad systems. "Landside congestion plagues many seaports, but Port Everglades is fortunate to have direct interstate highway access and a strong partnership with the Florida East Coast Railway and the State of Florida that keeps commerce on the move," said Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director Steven M.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced Friday that 72 projects will receive a total of $600 million from the sixth round of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. Of these, 12 Coalition for America’s Gateway and Trade Corridor (CAGTC) member projects were awarded a total of $135 million for projects with full costs exceeding $490 million. One in three grant dollars, just over $198 million, was awarded to 25 projects supporting freight movement. Compared to previous rounds, this represents a decrease in the amount of money and total awards given to freight relative to other types of projects.

Coast Guard Station Mayport crewmembers responded to a report of a sailing vessel that allided with the Main Street Bridge Thursday in Jacksonville, Fla., in the St. Johns River. Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville command center were notified of the incident at approximately 12:06 p.m. Station Mayport crewmembers were launched to respond at approximately 12:20 p.m. Jacksonville Fire Rescue crews were also on scene and helped tow the sailing vessel, Celer, to the boat landing at the River City Brewing Co. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission crews were also on scene. The two mariners aboard the Celer did not report any injuries.

Port Everglades will begin the renovation for its sixth cruise terminal in five years this spring as Terminal 4 is modernized through an expansion and reconfiguration effort that will provide the cruise line industry with a modern dual flow facility just in time for the 2014/2015 cruise season. In addition, the adjacent Slip 2 will be extended by 250 feet for a total 1,150 feet of berth length to accommodate larger cruise ships calling at Port Everglades. The Slip 2 extension is slated for completion by the end of 2016.

Florida Governor Rick Scott will serve as the keynote speaker on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the American Association of Port Authority’s (AAPA) 102nd Annual Convention and Expo in Orlando, Fla., hosted by the Canaveral Port Authority. He will discuss the importance of investing in ports and port-related infrastructure during a luncheon presentation at the AAPA convention. Gov. Scott is a strong proponent for ports, particularly Florida’s 14 deepwater seaports. In his 2013 State of the State address in March…

The Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development (FSTED) Council approved $16.5 million in allocations to Port Everglades to lengthen a cruise berth and to extend the port’s Southport Turning Notch to allow for more cargo berths. These allocations, which were approved under two different state funding sources, will become part of the Florida Department of Transportation  (FDOT) 2014/15 Work Program that comes before the Florida Legislature for approval this next legislative session.

The U.S. Coast Guard has closed a portion of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Fla., after the 'USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. The RoRo vessel was being towed from its home pier in Jacksonville to the North Florida Ship Yard for normal dock and maintenance work. There were no injuries reported. Boatcrews from Coast Guard Station Mayport and other law enforcement agencies are currently enforcing a 200-yard safety zone on both sides of the bridge. Florida Department of Transportation bridge inspectors are en route to determine the extent of damage.

The upcoming Infocast presented 'Port & Intermodal Finance & Investment Summit' will be hosted & sponsored by the Port of Miami, FL. President Obama recently outlined a program of bonds and other measures to encourage such spending on roads, bridges and ports when he spoke at the Port of Miami. The Port & Intermodal Finance & Investment Summit, April 16-18, 2013, will bring together port authorities, terminal operators, shipping lines, intermodal carriers and financial players to share their perspectives, establish a constructive dialogue, build understanding and ultimately develop the financial models that will support the pipeline of capital intensive projects on the drawing board.

Port authorities, terminal Operators, shipping Lines, intermodal companies & the financial community to attend upcoming Infocast conference. Conference organizer, Infocast, brings its Port & Intermodal Finance & Investment Summit to Miami, FL on April 16-18, 2013, which will be hosted and sponsored by the Port of Miami. In order to increase maritime commerce competitiveness, expand revenues, and create jobs, American ports are promoting multimillion dollar plans to seize the benefits of the greater number of post-Panamax ships expected to call at American ports as result of increased traffic through the Panama and Suez Canals. AAPA reports that U.S.

Governor Rick Scott announced plans to fully fund the $77m shortfall for the port dredging project so that larger ships can enter the port. “Today I directed the Florida Department of Transportation to amend their work plan to include $77 million so that Florida can take another leap forward in international trade,” Scott said. Flanked by Senator Marco Rubio, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congressman David Rivera, and Colombian Ambassador Gabriel Silva, the Governor unveiled his intention to invest in the types of infrastructure projects that have long-term, permanent payoffs. The Port of Miami dredge project is projected to result in 30,000 new jobs for the region in the coming years.

Port Everglades experienced a third quarter of double-digit growth in containerized cargo over the same time period last year, which officials believe is a positive sign of economic recovery in South Florida. Container cargo throughput in TEUs, or "20-foot equivalent units," which is the cargo industry's standard container measurement, increased 10.6 percent during the third quarter of the fiscal year, April through June 2011, compared to the same period last year. For the first nine months of the Port's fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, TEUs totaled 674,675, up 12.1 percent, up from the 601,771 TEUs the previous year. While remaining lower than the number of TEUs over the same period three years ago (FY 2008) when Port Everglades reached an all-time high in container traffic…

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Fla., is trying to find the owner of a 60-ft. work barge that struck the northbound lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge, Interstate 275. The barge has two markings, MB54 and Jacksonville. It is believed that the barge broke free of its moorings due to the high winds and seas of Tropical Storm Alberto. Officials are working to find the owner of the barge and remove the barge from causing further damage to the bridge. Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Florida Highway Patrol and the Tampa Police Department are working together to assess the damage. The bridge is now open to traffic with only the right lane closed for bridge workers. The barge is carrying no cargo and there have been no injuries.

The Port of Palm Beach District selected Florida Crystals as its partner to develop the South Florida Regional Intermodal Logistic Center in western Palm Beach County in order to strategically meet the demands of future cargo traffic. Western Palm Beach County has struggled with soaring unemployment rates of more than 40 percent and little or no economic activity. The Inland Logistics Center has the potential to create 600 jobs per one million square feet of distribution space. "We are hopeful now that the local governments have spoken Governor Crist will put aside his recent differences with Florida Crystals and not continue to cause economic harm to the residents of western Palm Beach County," said Gaston Cantens, Vice President of Florida Crystals.

The assumption that trade conditions and infrastructure will drive future transportation changes will be the overriding theme at the sixth annual American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) “Shifting International Trade Routes” workshop in Tampa, Fla., Jan. 24-25, 2013. The 1½-day program, which is being cosponsored by the U.S. Maritime Administration and hosted by the Tampa Port Authority, will address the range of issues related to dynamic, global and hemispheric trade.