Port Everglades, the National Port Authority of Honduras, and Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of a joint Sister Seaports agreement.
Honduras’ Empresa Nacional Portuaria and OPC have agreed to enter into an MoU with Port Everglades to establish an alliance aimed at generating new business by promoting all-water shipping routes that serve both ports.
The MoU was signed on 5 October during the 6th Annual Latin America Ports Forum in Fort Lauderdale by Lina Carona of Empresa Nacional Portuaria, Valmir Castro de Araujo, Commercial Director of OPC, and Jonathan Daniels, Port Everglades CEO and Port Director.
The two parties want to establish joint initiatives aimed at facilitating international trade and generating new business by promoting the sea trade routes between the two countries.
The MoU outlines joint initiatives, including marketing activities and market studies, data sharing, training, and sharing of information on technology, modernisation and improvements.
Daniels commented, “International trade promotion is a priority for Port Everglades and Broward County. Increased trade will lead to the creation of more jobs both in Florida and the Central American region.
“Honduras is an important trade partner for Port Everglades and the nation. South Florida, as a region, far exceeds other US areas in trade between the United States and Honduras – including all the nation’s seaports, airports, and border crossings.”
OPC, operated by ITCSI since 2013, has embarked on an expansion drive owning two super Post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes and a berth depth of 14.5m to take in the world’s largest container vessels.
Between 30 September 2020 and 1 October 2021, nearly 75,000 TEU have moved between the two ports.
During the Forum Daniels said that Port Everglades “will not impart its will” on harnessing emerging technologies for terminal operators as the port continues to break record numbers of container throughput.
In July 2021, Port Everglades broke its historic high for July with 91,285 TEU, and is confident that it will once again break the one million TEU by the end of the fiscal year.
