PortMiami handles largest container ship to call on Florida port

PortMiami yesterday welcomed the Maersk Shanghai container ship, the largest vessel to call on a Florida deep-water port, the port announced Wednesday.

At 1,063 feet long and 159 feet wide, the ship has a carrying capacity of 10,081 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The vessel started its journey in China and arrived in Miami through the Suez Canal.

"Bigger ships represent the movement of more goods in and out of the port, which translates to growth and prosperity for our economy," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez in a press release.

In July 2015, the port wrapped up a $220 million project to deepen its harbor ahead of the Panama Canal expansion, which was completed in summer 2016. Aimed at preparing the port to handle larger ships, PortMiami's project deepened the harbor from 42 feet to 50 feet.

To learn how other ports and intermodal partners are faring after the Panama Canal expansion project, read Progressive Railroading's June cover story.