Port Everglades Prepares to Handle Bigger Ships

Port Everglades Floridas Port Everglades is purchasing three low-profile Super Post Panamax container-handling gantry cranes to meet demands anticipated from the ports expansion program. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners approved the USD 41.4 million crane purchase, with an option for the seaport to purchase an additional three cranes anytime within five years of placing the order for the first three cranes. At USD 13.8 million each, the new cranes will be constructed by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC). The low-profile cranes will have the ability to handle containers stacked eight units high and reach across 22 containers on a ships decks. Port Everglades existing seven gantry cranes in the Southport area are limited to containers stacked five units high and can reach out across 16 containers on a ships deck. Cargo ships are getting larger and several shipping lines already coming to Port Everglades from Europe and South America need Super Post-Panamax cranes now, Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director Steve Cernak, said.