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Last week, the largest-ever container ship called on Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Fla.

About the size of an aircraft carrier, the ship was 1,095 feet long and 141 feet wide, weighed 90,745 gross-registered tons and carried 8,238 20-foot containers. The ship traveled from northern Europe to Port Everglades as part of a weekly service.

Previously, the largest container ship to call on the port — which occurred in March 2011 — was 1,066 feet long and 140 feet wide, and weighed 89,954 gross-registered tons.

"Container ships are increasingly larger because it makes good business and environmental sense to carry more cargo per voyage," said Steven Cernak, Port Everglade's chief executive officer and director, in a prepared statement. "Given this trend, we fully expect larger vessels to frequently call on Port Everglades in the future, especially once the Panama Canal is expanded."

The port is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deepen its navigable channels from 45 feet to 57 feet, and deepen its inner entrance channel and main turning basin from 42 feet to 50 feet. The project's total cost is estimated at $320 million. In late November, the Army Corps of Engineers expects to release an environmental and feasibility study for public comments.

The port also is developing a 42-acre intermodal container transfer facility. To be completed by mid-2014, the $72 million facility will be served by Florida East Coast Railway.