PortMiami now ready for the big ship eraThe grand celebration for the completion of PortMiami’s Deep Dredge project and On-dock Intermodal Rail took place on Sept. 18 making it ready for the big ship era.
It is the only major logistics hub south of Virginia capable of handling fully laden post-Panamax vessels. More than $1 billion of capital infrastructure projects now are complete and have transformed PortMiami to a major U.S. global gateway.
PortMiami now offers Super Post- Panamax gantry cranes that can service cargo vessels up to 22 containers wide and up to nine containers above deck and 11 containers below. On-dock intermodal rail service in partnership with Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) today links PortMiami to 70 percent of the U.S. population in four days or less.
Additionally, a new fast access tunnel connects the port directly to the United States Interstate Highway System providing rapid turnaround time for the movement of import and export goods. These projects already are providing customers with the convenience of fast reliable quality service.
“The completion of the Deep Dredge and the Intermodal On-dock Rail project are a major milestone not only for Miami- Dade County and PortMiami, but for all of Florida because the entire Sunshine State will benefit from increased trade opportunities once the expanded Panama Canal opens in 2016,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “I thank Gov. Rick Scott, our state legislators, county commissioners and all who advocated for these critical projects.
“The completion of both projects ensures that PortMiami will remain competitive in the global marketplace,” he added.
“A new big ship era is here and PortMiami is ready,” said Juan M. Kuryla, PortMiami director and CEO. “I am proud to say that PortMiami is now able to berth Post-Panamax ships, and we are able to expedite the movement of goods throughout Florida, the continental U.S., and the world, fast and efficiently.
“We are grateful to the vision of our state and local leaders for making this critical infrastructure project a reality. The completion of PortMiami’s Deep Dredge and Intermodal On-dock Rail projects cannot be overstated; PortMiami is now positioned as the most reliable, convenient and efficient global hub on the North American East Coast ready to service the world’s leading ocean carriers,” Kuryla added.
“We congratulate our partner PortMiami on the completion of the Deep Dredge which will enable big ships to make a direct call,” said Jim Hertwig, FECR president and CEO. “We have come a long way since our On-dock Rail groundbreaking in July of 2011, to the completion of the Port Tunnel last year, and now the completion of the Deep Dredge.
“Today FECR runs daily port trains with cargo going to and from global markets that reach 70 percent of the U.S. population in four days or less including next day service within the state of Florida and second day service throughout the Southeast.”
The United States Army Corps of Engineers managed the project. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company LLC was the contractor selected for the deepening of PortMiami’s channel to 50/52 feet dredging which began in August 2013.
For more information about PortMiami visit www.miamidade.gov/portmiami.
