Florida International Terminal (FIT), a subsidiary of SAAM Terminals, has successfully renewed its lease agreement at Port Everglades for another 10 years, following approval by the Broward County Commissioners and the local Port Authority.
“Our entire team has been working on this goal for over two years and we have been preparing the terminal with investments to continue positioning the terminal as one of the leading cargo terminals in South Florida, with the best service to customers in the region,” stated Justin P. Weir, CEO of FIT.
Under this contract, which extends until 2035, FIT plans to invest US$25 million in the container terminal over the next 24 months. This investment aims to enhance sustainability and efficiency in cargo handling for customers and create additional work opportunities for the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Union workforce.
“FIT has been a great partner in helping to improve the port’s operational efficiency, and we applaud their ongoing investments to move cargo faster, advance green initiatives and contribute to our local economy,” said Glenn Wiltshire, Acting Port Director of Port Everglades.
In 2018, the terminal implemented a modernization plan with a total investment of US$5 million, doubling its container dispatch capacity. Over the past year, FIT has continued to expand its services, catering to the North-South trade lanes between the US, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
FIT is one of ten ports operated by SAAM Terminals in the Americas and is strategically located to meet the consumption and cargo needs of one of the world’s largest consumer regions. The terminal’s connection to major highways and railroads facilitates efficient access to ground and intermodal transportation, broadening its area of influence. Last year, the terminal handled 296,000 TEUs and 2.5 million tons of cargo. It features four berths with a maximum draft of 12.8 meters, along with six low-profile ship-to-shore cranes, capable of handling 12,000 TEU class vessels.
