The Broward County Board of County Commissioners this week approved Port Everglades’ plans for a $437.5-million expansion – the most expensive capital project in its history – to add new berths for larger cargo ships and install infrastructure for new Super Post-Panamax container cranes.
The Southport Turning Notch Expansion project will lengthen the existing deepwater turn-around area for cargo ships from approximately 900 feet to 2,400 feet, which will allow for up to five new cargo berths. The existing gantry crane rails will be extended to the full length of the extended Turning Notch berth to utilize the existing cranes. The port in June will seek approval for a separate agreement to purchase three new Super Post-Panamax container gantry cranes, to be delivered in 2019, with an option to purchase as many as three more, from the county commission.
The Southport Turning Notch Extension is a key element of the port’s 2006 Master/Vision Plan. A joint venture of Moss & Associates and Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. (doing business as Moss/Kiewit) has been named the managing general contractor for the STNE and Southport Crane Infrastructure Improvements project.
As part of the Southport project, the port completed replacement of 8.7 acres of an existing mangrove conservation easement with a 16.5-acre upland enhancement of approximately 70,000 new mangroves and wetland plants, a project element that is now completed, as well as completing a number of environmental improvements in West Lake Park.