Port Everglades box terminal approved

Port Everglades box terminal approved Florida's Port Everglades received approval Tuesday from the Broward County Board of County Commissioners to start construction on a new 41-acre container terminal.
   Miami-based Tran Construction won the bid for the Phases VIIA and VIII cargo terminals in the Southport area of Port Everglades in the amount of $13.3 million including contingencies. Florida state grants are funding up to half of the project.
   The terminal construction is scheduled for completion in early 2010, and is expected to increase cargo yards at the port by 15 percent from existing acreage.
   'This new containerized cargo terminal is part of the port's Master/Vision Plan,' said Philip C. Allen, Port Everglades director, in a statement. 'The plan also includes future near-dock rail for efficient transport of cargo, which makes this terminal especially attractive.'
   Containerized traffic, at 6.58 million tons and 985,095 TEUs, during fiscal year ending Sept. 30, has increased steadily at Port Everglades, almost doubling since fiscal year 2002, the port noted.
   'Our global marketing efforts will increase as we actively pursue new shipping lines and terminal operators for this new project,' said Carlos Buqueras, Port Everglades' director of business development. 'We are also looking to expand existing container cargo services that may need additional space to grow their businesses.'
   The new container terminal is the third major construction project to begin the South Florida port in the past 12 months, including a new 10-acre petroleum terminal and a large cruise ship terminal.