Ken Krauter News

China Shipping’s Xin Chong Quing is now the second carrier from the Far East to call at Port Everglades regularly. China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL), part of the PEXS vessel-sharing consortium, is the second carrier from the Far East to make Broward County’s Port Everglades part of its regular service. PEXS, which includes CSCL, CMA CGM and P&O Nedlloyd is calling on the Port's second multi-user container terminal operator, which is operated by APM Terminals. This month, as part of the PEX service…

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.

Broward County’s Port Everglades saluted the U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), this month as the 1,092-foot-long ship and several thousand sailors made their first port call since the ship’s commissioning in July 2003. “Broward County has always been a favorite destination for Navy ships, which is due in part to the many attractions and sites this area has to offer young people, and to the warm reception they receive from our local residents as well as our active Navy Leagues,” said Broward County Mayor Diana Wasserman-Rubin. Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, Jr., Port Director Ken Krauter and mayors from cities within the port’s jurisdiction greeted Commanding Officer Capt. James A.

Conrad Strong, an 18-year veteran at Broward County’s Port Everglades, has been named Chief Harbormaster beginning May 23, said Port Director Ken Krauter. The Harbormaster Office includes approximately 40 professional and technical staff that oversees all vessel movements and berth assignments at the South Florida seaport. At Port Everglades, the Harbormaster Office serves as a one-stop shop that coordinates vessel agents, harbor pilots, towing companies, security and governmental agencies to ensure proper and timely vessel arrivals and departures. “We are fortunate to have someone with Conrad’s breadth of knowledge and experience available to make a seamless transition into this critical management position,” Krauter said.

Broward County’s Port Everglades is experiencing record cruise passenger growth in 2004 and just nine months into the current fiscal year already surpassed 2003’s total number of passengers. Just one month later, the South Florida cruise port powered past its all-time annual high mark, which was set in 2002. By the end of this year, Port Everglades expects to top the four million annual passenger milestone for the first time. “Broward County has become the hub of the cruise industry and this year’s phenomenal passenger growth demonstrates that Port Everglades’ appeal continues to grow,” said Ken Krauter, Port Director. In June, just nine months into the current fiscal year, Port Everglades hosted 3,409,116 cruise passengers, surpassing last year’s 12-month total of 3,375,671 passengers.

Broward County’s Port Everglades has been ranked as one of the five fastest growing container ports among the nation’s 20 largest seaports, with a 16 percent increase in containerized cargo from 2003 to 2004, according to newly released year-end data by the P.I.E.R.S. Trade Information Service. “We’re celebrating another year of dramatic success in our container business, which is due in part to an expanding diversification of container routes and services,” said Port Director Ken Krauter. Over the 12 months January through December 2004, containerized cargo at Port Everglades has grown 16 percent from 429,315 loaded TEUs (20-foot equivalent units – the industry’s standard for measuring containerized cargo) in 2003 to 499,701 TEUs in 2004.

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.

Anti-terrorism and physical security specialist Melchor Becena has been named Security Administrator for Broward County’s Port Everglades, announced Port Director Ken Krauter. Becena joins Port Everglades after a search for a top level security/safety advisor to South Florida’s burgeoning cruise, cargo and petroleum seaport. He comes to the South Florida Seaport from the Security and Intelligence Division, Public Safety Business Center, in Fort Bragg, N.C. where he was a Physical Security and Anti-terrorism specialist. He has more than 20 years of experience in security specializing in counter-terrorism, anti-terrorism, intelligence and physical security. He has a Master’s degree in Business and Organizational Security Management from Webster University, St. Louis, Mo. Highlights of Mr.