FEC Rail Boosts Port Everglades Cargo Volumes

Besting its record 1 million TEU count, containerized cargo volumes at Broward County's Port Everglades grew another 5 percent during Fiscal Year 2015 (October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015) to 1,060,506 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units, the industry's standard container measurement), according to preliminary fiscal year-end reports.

Port officials credit the increase to new and expanded cargo services, and the first full operational year of the Florida East Coast Railway's (FECR) intermodal container transfer facility (ICTF) at the Port.

"We continue making substantial infrastructure investments to help our customers grow their businesses - most notably, the FECR's railyard and roadway improvements to improve the last mile of landside connectivity," said Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director Steven Cernak.

The FECR celebrated its first-year anniversary operating its ICTF at Port Everglades with a 26 percent increase in volume. The near-dock 43-acre, state-of-the-art rail facility resulted from a public-private partnership between the FECR, Broward County and the State of Florida.

In addition, the Eller Drive Overpass opened early in 2015 to connect the east end of I-595 directly to the Port's main entrance. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) invested $42.5 million to build the Overpass, which allows vehicles entering Port Everglades to travel unimpeded over two new at-grade rail tracks that lead into the FECR's new rail facility. Interstate-595 connects directly to I-95, I-75 and Florida's Turnpike. 

Several terminal operators at Port Everglades experienced TEU increases in the past fiscal year, including Crowley, Florida International Terminal, Hyde Shipping, King Ocean, Mediterranean Shipping Company (Port Everglades Terminal) and SeaFreight.

Produce importer, Ayco Farms began operating a 5-acre terminal at the Port and has a weekly service to import melons from Central America from May through November. 
Recently, SeaLand and APL's North American Express Service (NAE/ACX) began service to Latin America, which is expected to generate an additional 20,000 TEU increase in the next fiscal year. Port Everglades is the first and last U.S. call for this weekly, year-round service.

At the crossroads of north-south and east-west trade, Broward County's Port Everglades serves as a gateway to Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Located within the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Dania Beach, Florida, Port Everglades is in the heart of one of the world's largest consumer regions, including a constant flow of visitors and up to a combined 110 million residents and seasonal visitors within a 500-mile radius. Port Everglades has direct access to the interstate highway system and the FECR's intermodal hub, and is closer to the Atlantic Shipping Lanes than any other Southeastern U.S. port. Ongoing capital improvements and expansion will ensure that Port Everglades can continue to handle future growth in container traffic. A world-class cargo handling facility, Port Everglades serves as an ideal point of entry and departure for products shipped around the world.