From Ship to Shore

Super sacks unloaded form ship with spreader bar

Port tenant, Teeters Agency & Stevedoring is proving the company’s efficiency will save its customers money.

The company's stevedores used a super sack spreader bar, designed and built by one of the company’s owners, to unload 16 cement super sacks at one time. The break-bulk cargo easily unlatches from the spreader using a wireless remote control.

The company unloaded 6,000 super sacks in just three days. The shipment of cement was then transported to a distributor in Palm Beach County.

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Port of Palm Beach Commissioners pay tribute to late Congressman Alcee Hastings

Port of Palm Beach District Board of Commissioners honored Congressman Alcee Hastings by passing Memorial Resolution No. 2021-05.

Congressman Hastings passed away April 6th at age 84. Hastings was the the longest serving member of Florida’s Congressional Delegation. He was an advocate for Florida ports during his time as a member of the Florida Congressional Ports Caucus. His legislatives priorities included continued efforts to create jobs and provide greater economic opportunities for middle class and the working poor. The Board recognized the Congressman for his continued defense of the rights of minorities, women, the elderly, children and immigrants.

Read Memorial Resolution

Cruising could resume mid-July

The CDC released new guidelines that could allow cruise ships to start operating in mid-July.

Port of Palm Beach is home to Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. The cruise line offers a 2-night cruise to Grand Bahama Island aboard the Grand Classica.

Click here to read BPCL's travel notice.

The Port of Palm Beach has spent the last 14 months intensifying healthy and safety procedures by:

enhancing our sanitation procedures
installing touchless hand sanitizing stations
refurbishing restrooms to include touchless fixtures
adding plexiglass in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection area
upgrading our HVAC system by increasing fresh air intake and adding MERV 13 filters

The Port of Palm Beach has been working with Palm Beach County Health Department to ensure a safe cruise resumption plan. Port staff also requested to hosts on-site vaccine clinics when the cruise line's crew members return to the Port.

The Port of Palm Beach and Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line look forward to welcoming back the cruising public soon.

Tenant Spotlight: Southeast Hay Distributors

Southeast Hay Distributors truck and trailer outside warehouse

In this Tenant Spotlight, we featured Southeast Hay Distributors. The company sells equine products to thousands of horse owners and polo teams in Palm Beach County. The company’s CEO, Alexander Christensen, talks about how they transport the products to the Port, the benefit of being headquartered at the Port and how they serve the Caribbean.

Watch Tenant Spotlight

Meet your local harbor pilots

Harbor Pilots Reis Hansen, Dane Britt and Eric Baker

Captains Reid Hansen, Eric Baker and Dane Britt are three of four Palm Beach Harbor Pilots. Not pictured in the photo above is Captain Matthew Rigby.

As state-licensed harbor pilots, they provide safe & reliable transit for ships arriving & departing the Port of Palm Beach.

Foreign-flagged ships that draw more than seven feet of water must use a state-licensed harbor pilot while maneuvering in Florida waters. On average the local captains pilot about 2,550 arriving and departing vessels.

Port donates benches to local Boys and Girls Club

This month, members of the Port Facilities team delivered eight benches to the Max M. Fisher Boys and Girls Club in Riviera Beach. Two of the donated benches were placed in the club's lobby and the other benches will be dispersed among local Boys and Girls Clubs. The benches were previously used in the cruise terminal for cruise passengers.

Facilities workers Todd, Jordan and Lawrence unloading benches

Facility workers moving benches into lobby.

Boys and Girls Club staff member with Port facility workers

Job opportunities at Port of Palm Beach

CEMEX is currently hiring two Terminal Attendants to work at its terminal located at the Port of Palm Beach. Click here to apply.

Southeast Hay Distributors is looking to fill the following positions.

Financial Controller
Warehouse Manager
Sales and Marketing Manager

Southeast Hay Distributors posted the job listings on the website Indeed.

Tropical Shipping currently has four job openings in Riviera Beach.

Chasis Repair Person
Container Repair Person
Utility Person
Buyer

Click here to view openings.

Port of Palm Beach hosts
"Stop the Bleed" training

The Port of Palm Beach has partnered with the Health Care District of Palm Beach County to provide free "Stop the Bleed" training to Port employees and tenants. The training is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 25th and Wednesday, May 26th. There will be three classes taught each day, 9 AM, 1 PM and 4 PM.

The training, conducted by instructor David Summers, will teach you how to identify life-threatening bleeding and treat it by packing wounds, applying pressure and properly using a tourniquet.

If you are interested in attending a training class, please email the Port's Public Information Officer, Yaremi Farinas.

Photo from Health Care District showing instructor David Summers applying tourniquet

David Summers, training instructor with Health Care District of Palm Beach County, applies tourniquet on trainee.

Photo Credit: Health Care District of Palm Beach County

Monthly financials and cargo tonnage reports

The monthly financials and cargo tonnage reports for the month of March are now available on our website.

Read reports

Teeters Agency & Stevedoring sees increase in cargo tonnage

Our cargo tonnage reports show Port of Palm Beach tenant, Teeters Agency & Stevedoring, surpassed last year's tonnage by 50%.

Teeters Agency & Stevedoring is a third-generation family owned business that began its services from the Port back in 1983.

The company is a full service Stevedoring and Agency Company capable of handling container and general cargo vessels.

Teeters is also the general agents for Monarch Shipping Company, a RO/RO liner service offering shipping services from Port of Palm Beach to Haiti. Monarch owns three RO/RO vessels, the Monarch Queen, Monarch Princess and the Monarch Countess.

Board Chairman updates local group on Port operations

This month, Port of Palm Beach Board of Commissioners Chairman Joseph Anderson participated in a virtual event hosted by the Caribbean-American for Community Involvement (CAFCI). Chairman Anderson provided attendees with an overview of Port operations, as well as current happenings at the Port including an update on cruising, the Port's Master Plan and the Port Infrastructure Development Program.

"CACFI's mission is to maintain and sustain the quality of life for the community, consistent with the culture and tradition of our diverse ancestral heritage. This organization is committed to volunteerism and social activities with special emphasis on our youths and seniors," Chairman Anderson said.

CAFCI functions as a resource center and information clearinghouse for individuals of the Caribbean-American community.

"I had the distinct pleasure sharing information about the Port of Palm Beach and I thank CACFI for the opportunity to address their members," Chairman Anderson said.

Board Chairman Anderson participating in virtual event

May Port Employee Work Anniversaries

Congratulations to our Special Projects Manager, Aaron Hoffman, for 16 years of service. Aaron has held several positions while at the Port. He was Port Duty Officer from 2005-2014. He then managed the the TWC Enrollment Center that use to be located at the Port and in 2018 he was promoted to Special Projects Manager. Aaron has been instrumental in numerous security, operations and capital improvement projects.

"The Port was an obvious choice for me to continue my maritime career. Previous to my stint at the port, I was in the U.S. Coast Guard for 21 years. As a crew is needed to navigate a ship safely, a port needs good and talented people to keep it profitable for the community. Mission success and the people I work with to achieve this is what makes this an enjoyable place to work," said Aaron.

Aaron is also the Executive Director of the Port of Palm Beach Seafarers Center, a non-profit charity located at the Port, that provides services to mariners who dock at our Port.

Food drive outside Port's cruise terminal

Weekly
drive-through food

distribution

This month marks one year since the Port of Palm Beach began supporting Hospitality Helping Hand's weekly food drive. With cargo operations increasing and cruising possibly resuming in July, the Port has decided it will provide space for the food drive event until June 12th. We are thankful for the partnership and the organization's commitment of feeding more than 50,000 thousands of families in Palm Beach County.

Hospitality Helping Hands weekly food drive has relocated to its original location at 301 Broadway Avenue near the Southgate Facility.

Attendees are asked to enter the Port south of the Sky Pass bridge on the westside of Broadway Avenue. Drivers will be asked to line up in the car staging area.

Visitors will then be escorted to the food distribution area once the event starts at
3 PM.

The no-contact food distribution events provide families with nutritional groceries, baby products and pet food.

COVID-19 Update

Face masks are now optional while on Port property. Keep in mind businesses and agencies can enforce a mask policy if they choose to.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin accepting walk-ins at its Global Entry Enrollment Center starting May 31. The Global Entry Enrollment Center is located on the third floor of the Maritime Office Complex. Walk-ins are welcome on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 3 PM to 4 PM. CBP requires visitors to wear a face mask.

View hours of operations

You can stay-up to date on how the Port is handling the COVID-19 pandemic, by visiting our COVID-19 alert page on our website.

COVID-19 VACCINE

The Port of Palm Beach is working with the Palm Beach County Health Department to schedule on-site vaccine clinics at the Port for crew members and individuals working at the Port.

In the meantime, if you want to be vaccinated and have transportation to get to the health department's clinic in Lake Worth, please email the Port's PIO, Yaremi Farinas, who can help you schedule an appointment.

Upcoming Commission Meetings

You're invited to attend our Board of Commissioners meetings.

May 20
June 17
July 15

The public is welcome to attend the in-person board meetings held in our Board Room located on the 6th Floor of the Maritime Office Complex at One East 11th St Riviera Beach, FL. Face masks are optional.

View agendas and minutes