Facebook Twitter Twitter    Archive | www.aapa-ports.org December 9, 2013
   

Business Agreements: Palm Beach, Everglades

Print Print this Article | Send to Colleague

The Port of Palm Beach and Tropical Shipping USA LLC have reached an agreement to extend the ocean container carrier’s lease at the port by five years. Port Everglades on November 29 welcomed global ocean carrier Hamburg Süd’s first shipment of imported Peruvian grapes as part of the recently approved pilot program allowing South American fruit to be directly imported into the United States through South Florida ports.

Palm Beach Port, Tropical Shipping Agree to Lease Extension

The Port of Palm Beach and Tropical Shipping USA LLC have reached an agreement to extend the ocean container carrier’s lease at the port by five years. The agreement covers Tropical’s cargo terminal parcels and rates and includes an option for an additional five-year extension.  

Tropical has been a Palm Beach port tenant since 1963.  

The final amendment to the lease agreement, which includes an 18-month lease on the Maritime Office Building where Tropical’s Palm Beach business operations are headquartered, was approved by the Board of Commissioners at its November meeting. 

"After many months of negotiations, I am proud that the Port and Tropical Shipping have both come to an agreement that works well for both of us," said Palm Beach Port Executive Director Manuel Almira, PPM®.

Tropical Shipping provides the port lease and cargo revenues amounting to more than $5 million annually is currently experiencing cargo tonnage increases from a year ago of nearly 25 percent. Palm Beach is the hub of its Caribbean shipping services.

"We are very pleased to have Tropical Shipping remain at the Port of Palm Beach," said Port Commission Chairman George E. Mastics. "Tropical has provided the port with a stable and growing revenue stream for many years.

Tropical Shipping terminal at the Port of Palm Beach.
Photo/Port of Palm Beach

Port Everglades Welcomes First Container of Imported South American Fruit Under New Pilot Program

Port Everglades on November 29 welcomed global ocean carrier Hamburg Süd’s first shipment of imported Peruvian grapes as part of the recently approved pilot program allowing South American fruit to be directly imported into the United States through South Florida ports. Previously, fruit had to be imported through colder, northern ports and then trucked to market due to concerns over fruit flies and other pests that could threaten local crops and vegetation. 

"Hamburg Süd is proud to have been selected to carry the first refrigerated cargo load of fresh Peruvian grapes to Florida," said Jürgen Pump, senior vice president, Hamburg Süd North America. "With our state-of-the-art refrigerated cargo containers and our fixed-day of the week liner service between Peru and Port Everglades, we are uniquely positioned to cater to this exciting new business. Port Everglades is the first U.S. port of call for our South American West Coast/United States service, and we are looking forward to serving the South Florida fresh produce import community."

The Florida Perishables Trade Coalition (FPTC), a business coalition of international trade, transportation and port leaders, partnered with numerous agencies, including the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to develop the pilot program. 

This program, which began October 1, authorized for the first time ever a limited number of "cold-treatment" cargoes – grapes and blueberries from Peru and Uruguay – to enter the Florida market directly in containers. In order to comply with USDA’s parameters, Hamburg Süd transshipped its first container in Panama to allow it to complete its two-week cold treatment process and be cleared for unloading before arriving at Port Everglades. 

"This is one of the best opportunities for new business that Florida ports have seen in years," said Michael Vanderbeek, the port’s director of business development. "The economics are compelling and the timing is also right, and this pilot program is one step towards changing the paradigm of North-South perishables shipping to the benefit of Port Everglades and our customers.

With the pilot now underway, Port Everglades expects many more shipments of grapes and blueberries from Peru and Uruguay during the next few months and hopes to work with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and USDA to welcome other perishables from many new markets. 
 

Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn