Port Everglades expects to pass Miami as top Florida port

Port Everglades expects to pass Miami as top Florida port

Port Everglades said Monday projections for both container and cruise business indicate Port Everglades will pass the Port of Miami and become Florida's leading port in both categories.

   Port Everglades issued final numbers for fiscal year ended Sept. 30, confirming earlier reports that container traffic increased 9.8 percent to 948,680 TEUs. That could edge Miami as the top container port this year.

   'With the addition this month of new shipping services Antillean Marine and CMA-CGM, we fully expect to reach and exceed the 1-million-TEU mark before this time next year,' said Port Everglades Director Phillip C. Allen.

   Container statistics also showed Port Everglades topped 6 million tons of containerized cargo for the first time.

   The port's cruise traffic increased 5.3 percent to 3.4 million passengers, making it the world's third-busiest cruise port, behind Miami and Port Canaveral. But Allen noted Port Everglades will be the home port for massive new cruise ships in 2009 and 2010, likely making it the largest cruise port in the world.

   Port Everglades is also a busy bulk port, and is the primary gateway in South Florida for fuel shipments. Petroleum shipments decreased 0.4 percent to 123 million barrels. But the port received 486,000 barrels of bio-fuels, the first time bio-fuels had a measurable impact on the total barrel count. The year-end report indicated alternative fuels will increase in the future and lead to an overall gain in fuel volumes.

   In terms of revenues, the port took in $112.5 million, an 4.6 percent increase over fiscal year 2006.