“We’re seeing a robust upward trend in the Port’s two largest business sectors, cargo and cruise, that further indicates higher consumer confidence and positive economic benefits for the South Florida region,” says Port Everglades Chief Executive & Port Director Steven Cernak. “As a self-supporting seaport, we’re committed to boosting long-term growth by investing in the Port’s resources to make infrastructure improvements that will help our customers expand their businesses and create new jobs.”

Port Everglades is undergoing three major capital improvement projects totaling more than $500 million to increase cargo business by adding five new berths, deepening its navigational channels to 50 feet and bringing intermodal freight rail on to Port property with its partner Florida East Coast Railway. These improvements, which are expected to be completed by 2017, are estimated to create 7,000 new regional jobs and support 135,000 new jobs statewide when operating at full capacity.

Cargo Business Rebounding

FY 2012 containerized cargo tonnage increased almost 3 percent from FY2011, reaching 5,944,513 tons, and 923, 600 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were moved through the port, an increase of approximately 5 percent over FY2011, returning Port Everglades to near the record levels that it enjoyed in 2008 (985,000 TEUs), prior to the global economic downturn. Bulk and break bulk cargoes, typically used in construction, also rose in FY2012 over the prior fiscal year, by 83 percent and 27 percent, respectively, with notable increases in cement and steel rebar.

Port officials credit existing customers at Port Everglades for the cargo increases. In addition, two new heavy equipment shipping services, Naviera Master Line de Venezuela C.A. and Panamanian ocean shipping company, SC Line, began service between Port Everglades and Colombia and other Latin American countries.

“A landlord port is only as good as its customers, and our FY2012 performance shows that our customers are working hard to bring cargo and the economic benefits that come with it to Port Everglades and to Broward County,” said Michael Vanderbeek, Port Everglades Director of Business Development.

Overall, waterborne commerce, which includes all of the Port’s revenue-generating marine activity remained steady at 22 million tons. Non-marine activity such as real estate leases and parking also contributed to the Port’s bottom line, but is not included as waterborne commerce.

Cruise Numbers on the Rise

The number of multi-day cruise passengers grew slightly with 3,689,000 cruise guests sailing to and from the South Florida seaport during FY2012, up from 3,664,000 the prior fiscal year. The number of multi-day passengers has risen by nearly 60 percent in the past 10 years and is expected to climb gradually to more than 5 million by 2029, according to a marketing forecast prepared by transportation planning consultant AECOM as part of the Port’s 20-year Master/Vision Plan approved by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners in 2011.

Port Everglades just completed a $54 million renovation project that upgraded and modernized four existing cruise terminals – terminals 2, 19, 21 and 26 – in time for the busy 2012-2013 winter cruise season. The renovated cruise terminals will be used primarily by Carnival Corporation cruise lines in conjunction with the cruise company’s long-term agreement with the Port. In addition, the Port will be able to accommodate more, higher capacity cruise ships within the next five years as Port Everglades completes a project to lengthen an existing cruise berth by 250 feet and renovate the adjacent Cruise Terminal 4.

Daily cruise ship passenger traffic has dropped off in recent years since the Port’s daily cruise lines – Discovery Cruises and SeaEscape – stopped operating in September 2011 and August 2008, respectively. However, Balearia group, a ferry operator in the Mediterranean for 13 years, began a new high-speed ferry service to the Bahamas from Port Everglades this past year using the 463-passenger fast-ferry Pinar del Rio that takes approximately 2-3 hours to reach Grand Bahama Island. As this service and a second Balearia service to Bimini (the Bahamas) set to launch in 2013 become established, daily passenger counts are expected to grow.

“Upgrading this important section of the Dhaka-Chittagong-Northwest transport corridor will give a big lift to both domestic and subregional trade, as well as encouraging more domestic and foreign investment,” said Juan Miranda, Director General of ADB’s South Asia Department. “The project is an integral part of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) program’s push to improve infrastructure and promote economic cooperation in one of the world’s poorest and most densely populated areas.”

The SASEC Road Connectivity Project will expand and improve a 70 kilometer section of the Dhaka-Northwest corridor — the second busiest arterial route in the country.

The narrow two-lane road currently suffers from serious congestion and high accident rates. Expanding the route to four lanes will help ease bottlenecks, reduce crashes, and provide the nearly seven million people living in the area with new business opportunities and better access to markets, schools and other social services.

The initiative will also upgrade land ports at Benapole and Burimari, which handle the bulk of goods transported between Bangladesh and India. These upgrades will boost trade volumes, improve traffic flows and reduce the loss of perishable goods.

Studies show upgrading regional transport corridors in Bangladesh will support the movement of about 18 million tons of freight in Bhutan, India and Nepal, boosting intra-regional trade across South Asia.

The SASEC program is an initiative of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal to build closer links that will spur growth and development across the sub-region. Its work covers activities in many sectors
including transport, trade, energy, the private sector, tourism and the environment. ADB provides the program with a variety of support, including project financing, technical assistance, and advice.

As a public-private partnership initiative, a five-year performance-based contract to maintain the road will be included in works contracts, which also target up to 50% of the jobs provided for
women. The project also includes a technical assistance grant of $1.5 million equivalent, financed from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, to modernize and improve the Roads and Highways Department.

The project will be carried out over five years with an estimated completion date of December 2017. The OPEC Fund for International Development and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development will each provide co-financing loans of $30 million.

Forth Ports is investing in substantial equipment and site upgrading to LCT to ensure customers continue to receive a first rate and enhanced service. It is also integrating LCT with the busy short-sea terminal, also located at Tilbury. Part of the investment plan is the purchase of 14 new Kalmar ESC 450W straddle carriers from Cargotec.

Stuart Wallace, Divisional Director of London Container Terminal at the Port of Tilbury, said: “We are confident of delivering a highly efficient and positive experience for our customers.  We are delighted to work with Kalmar on this straddle carrier deal, which is the first step of many in the modernisation and upgrading of LCT.”

LCT handles in excess of half a million containers per year and is the only UK port servicing both deep sea and short sea customers. LCT is located on the Thames and is a key shipping and distribution location with access to London and the South East.

Ismo Leppänen, Managing Director of Cargotec UK Ltd, said: “We are pleased to be working again with the Forth Ports group, and in particular London Container Terminal, to deliver 14 new Kalmar straddle carriers, allowing the terminal to become totally integrated across its short sea and deep sea operations with regards to its straddle fleet. This delivery, scheduled for April next year, will further increase the number of Kalmar carriers at the terminal at what is an exciting development time for London Container Terminal.”

Kalmar ESC 450W straddle carrier’s 7+ generation models combine high performance and productivity with low maintenance and operating costs. Designed with operators in mind, they deliver strong environmental benefits which can be further enhanced with hybrid operation. The machines are equipped with Kalmar’s standard W-type front cabin complete for container handling with 4-high stacking and 50-tonne load capacity.

“Frank has been a highly effective member of my staff and I am pleased to continue working with him in his new capacity as Managing Director effective immediately,” said John LaRue, Executive Director of The Port of Corpus Christi.

Mr. Brogan’s promotion is part of a succession planning and organizational restructuring. As Managing Director, Mr. Brogan will be responsible for the daily operations of the Port including operations, business development, engineering, finance, IT, human resources and communications. Mr. Brogan will report directly to the Executive Director. “I am very honored by this promotion and appreciate the confidence expressed by the Port Commission and our Executive Director, John P. LaRue. I am looking forward to my new duties as Managing Director and the Port’s continued efforts at growing the economy of South Texas.” said Mr. Brogan.

Frank Brogan is a Registered Professional Engineer and Surveyor. He received his BSCE with honors from the University of Texas at Austin and Masters in Engineering from Texas A&I in Kingsville. A resident of Corpus Christi since 1974, Mr. Brogan has been with the Port since September 1987. Mr. Brogan directed the Mary Rhodes Water Pipeline Project, a $130 million emergency water supply project for the region.

Prior to joining the staff at the Port, Mr. Brogan was a consulting engineer in the Corpus Christi area for thirteen years, specializing in the design of industrial and marine facilities. As a consultant, he worked for many port authorities along the Texas Gulf Coast.