PortMiami reaches record 1 million TEUs

PortMiami posted a 15 percent increase in containerized cargo movements in fiscal-year 2015, and surpassed the 1 million mark for twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, port officials announced today.

The increase was attributed to the completion of $1 billion in capital infrastructure projects, as well as the port's partnership with Florida East Coast Railway (FECR).

Asian trade at the port is on the rise, with multiple weekly services from Miami to Asia through three of the world's four major carrier alliances including the 2M, O3 and G6, PortMiami officials said in a press release.

The infrastructure projects included the addition of super post-Panamax gantry cranes that can service cargo vessels up to 22 containers wide, up to nine containers above deck and 11 containers below. Additionally, a new access tunnel was completed to directly connect the port to the U.S. Interstate system.

Also, FECR invested in on-dock intermodal rail service at PortMiami, which has opened new markets for the port and FECR. The service features 9,000 feet of linear track, on which FECR runs multiple daily trains to and from the port.

"Through the vital infrastructure improvements both FECR and the port have made we are thrilled to be able to offer customers a seamless transfer of goods from ship to rail via the on-dock rail facility, expediting customers' cargo to market," said FECR President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Hertwig in the press release.