Port Everglades shares cruise insights with visiting International Sister Seaport delegates from China
Ceremonial plaque exchange between Xiamen and Port Everglades.
DATE: September 12, 2012
MEDIA CONTACTS: Ellen Kennedy and Maisy Alpert
Port Everglades Corporate & Community Relations
PHONE: 954-468-3508 or 954-468-3505
EMAIL: ekennedy@broward.org and malpert@broward.org
Delegates from the municipal government and Port of Xiamen, China, are looking at Port Everglades as a successful model for expanding their own emerging cruise operations in Asia.
The delegation visited Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, FL, this weekend and was treated to a tour provided with an overview of a $54 million re-construction project to renovate four cruise terminals at Port Everglades, and provided with insights on air-sea passenger handling from neighboring Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Both our seaports are in the midst of significant growth and extensive capital improvement projects in both the cruise and cargo sectors,” said Glenn Wiltshire, Deputy Port Director for Port Everglades. “So even though we are half a world apart, it is fitting that Port Everglades and the Port of Xiamen learn more about each other’s operations and experience to take full advantage of East-West economic opportunities.”
Port Everglades, signed an International Sister Seaport agreement with Port of Xiamen in September 2007. To become an International Sister Seaport with Port Everglades, a seaport must commit to the free exchange of information pertaining to cruise and cargo operations, statistical information and general market research.
Located on the western side of the Taiwan Straits, the Port of Xiamen is one of the major coastal ports in China. The port is owned and operated by Xiamen Port Authority which is a department of the Xiamen Municipal Government. The Xiamen Port Authority administers six port areas that provide facilities for containerized cargo, dry and break bulk cargo, liquid bulk products and cruise and ferry passengers. It is the 19th busiest containerized cargo seaport in the world according to the World Shipping Council, handling more than 6.4 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units, the standard measurement for containers) in 2011.
Port Everglades is the second busiest cruise port in the world with more than 3.5 million passengers expected during 2012 and more homeported cruise ships than any other cruise port worldwide. Twelve cruise lines and 42 cruise ships sail from the South Florida seaport including: Balearia’s Bahamas Express, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea Cruises and Seabourn. The Port's wide-ranging fleet of cruise ships provides guests with an array of cruise vacation choices from the sunny Greater Fort Lauderdale area. Port Everglades, where the best cruise ships launch and the greatest getaways begin. Details on the latest cruise offerings are available on the Internet at porteverglades.net.