Panama Canal and Port Everglades discuss the long-standing relationship
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) received today a delegation from Port Everglades led by Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief and Deputy Port Director Glenn Wiltshire. During the meeting, the Panama Canal Administrator provided an update on the Expansion Program and its impact on U.S. East Coast ports, the company said in its press release.
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and Port Everglades renewed their strategic alliance in 2011 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). First signed in August 2009, the MOU solidifies both entities' dedication to growth and best customer practices.
"Our partnership with Port Everglades further strengthens our shared goal of promoting trade growth in the region," said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Luis Quijano. "As we approach the completion of our Expansion Program, we look forward to pursuing even more mutually beneficial activities with Port Everglades."
Port Everglades provides service to 70 countries and is a U.S. gateway for trade with Latin America. Having the shortest, straightest entrance channel on the Southeast U.S. Atlantic coast saves ships fuel costs and time. The Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) recently opened an Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) on the Port to provide even greater ship-to-rail connectivity from South Florida to points throughout the United States.
"The future expansion plans at both Port Everglades and the ACP are destined to give each of our residents and visitors better access to the growing global economy," said Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief. "We continue to share information on our modernization efforts that complement each other."
"We are also discussing ways to pursue joint marketing activities," said Glenn Wiltshire, Port Everglades Deputy Port Director. "Port Everglades is the number one container cargo port in Florida and the number one U.S. gateway for trade with Latin America. We will continue getting the word out about how we are working together in this highly competitive environment."
Areas of cooperation between the ACP and Port Everglades include joint advertising programs, data interchange and competitive market analyses of the shipping industry. This alliance will also continue to promote the "All-Water Route," the route from Asia to the U.S. East Coast via the Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal Expansion is 79 percent complete. It involves the construction of a third lane of traffic allowing the passage of bigger vessels, which will double the Canal's capacity and have an important impact on world maritime trade.
About Port Everglades
At the crossroads of North-South and East-West trade, Port Everglades is Florida's leading container port, handling nearly one million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units, the industry standard measurement for container volumes) annually and serving as a gateway to Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Located in the cities of Hollywood, Dania Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, 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 newly opened 43-acre Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) 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.
About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors.
