The shipping platform

Location: Port Everglades is located 2nm S of the city of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, approx 37km N of Miami. General overview: Port Everglades is the State of Florida's deepest harbour, it is a leading container port and a main port for receipt and storage of petroleum products and transhipment of cargo. Port Everglades has the largest cruise terminal in the world and is also a major port of call for cruise liners, including the largest cruise ship "Oasis of the Seas" which commenced year round sailings from the port in December 2009 and her sister ship "Allure of the Seas" is scheduled to do likewise by early 2011. The port is also popular with naval vessels from both US and foreign navies, a recent berth deepening project allows docking of the largest US aircraft carriers. Cargo handled: Petroleum products, ethanol, scrap metal, cement, lumber, steel, secondary fibre, general cargo, heavy equipment, cars, yachts, trailers, buses, tractors and containerised cargo. Traffic figures: Approx 5,496 vessels, including 1,852 cruise vessels, visit the port and 25,800,000t of cargo are handled annually, which includes 796,000TEU. Over 2,800,000 cruise passengers also pass through the port each year. Load line zone: Summer. Max size: Container: LOA 305m, draught 12.5m. Liquid Bulk: LOA 274.4m, draught 12.8m. Bulk: LOA 251.5m, draught 12.2m. Cruise: LOA 367m, draught 12.8m. Navy: LOA 342.4m, draught 12.2m.