Port Miami celebrates completion of dredge and on-dock intermodal project

Port Miami

PortMiami heralded in the "big ship" era with the completion of its -50/-52 ft. Deep Dredge and On-dock Intermodal Rail project.

PortMiami 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 are now 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 eleven containers below. On-dock intermodal rail service in partnership with Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) now 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.

“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 Gimenez. “I thank [Florida] 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.”

“A new big ship era is here and PortMiami is ready,” said PortMiami Director and Chief Executive Officer Juan Kuryla. “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. 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.”

The port says the on-dock intermodal rail service provides shippers the convenience of port-to-door service with absolute lead times that match or exceed those of trucking, but with greater reliability and reduced carbon emissions.

PortMiami, in partnership with the FEC, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the state of Florida, invested $50 million to connect the port with the improved Hialeah intermodal rail yard. Restoration of this service re-connects the port with the national rail systems (CSX and Norfolk Southern) and expedites the movement of goods throughout Florida and into the continental U.S.