Board Chairman Blair Ciklin has canceled the emergency meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 4 PM. Instead, in an effort to accommodate Port of Palm Beach District Board of commissioners holiday travel plans, and to ensure a physical quorum of commissioners is achieved, Board Chairman Ciklin has scheduled a special meeting for Friday, December 30, 2022 at 4 PM.
 
The special meeting allows for ample public notice, adherence to the seven-day public notice requirement, and ensures the Board will achieve a physical quorum attendance at the December 30, 2022 meeting.
 
The purpose of the special meeting is to discuss the selection process to identify a candidate to fill the Port Commissioner Group 2 vacant seat that expires in January 2025. 

The public meeting will be held in the Maritime Office Complex Boardroom located at One East 11th Street, Suite 600, Riviera Beach, FL. 33404.
 

Click here for more information 

Emergency dredging expected to begin in January 

Port Engineer Ron Coddington continues working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to secure emergency dredging as soon as possible. The draft restrictions in place due to shoaling caused by Hurricane Nicole, have caused challenges for several Port tenants. The emergency dredging anticipated sometime in January is expected to remove enough sand for the Palm Beach Harbor Pilots to lift the current draft restrictions. 

Port staff will send a notification to tenants, neighboring communities and the public once we have a better timeline from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

Current Projects

• Merchants Drainage
• CBP Security Upgrades and Hardening 
• Port infrastructure Development Program (Rail Improvements)
• Master Plan
• Ozinga Terminal 

Cargo Tonnage Report

• Vessel port calls increased by 9.1% over previous year which is primarily due to the passenger cruise line resuming it's regular operating schedule when compared to little or no operation in the previous fiscal year.
• FY22 container tonnage increased by 6.7%, TEU's increased by 3.8%
• Rail cars increased by 13.2% from approximately 14.2K to 16.0K, primarily as a result of Tropical Shipping recovering from the COVID 19 pandemic, which resulted in increased economic activity from the cruise and tourism activity in the Caribbean.

• Cargo tonnage increases in asphalt of 22.6%, cement of 139.9%, and scrap metal of 51.5%.

• All Cargo Tonnage decreased by 5.1%, primarily from significant reductions in sugar of 28.2%, and molasses of 27.3%, primarily caused by weather, which offset the increases previously mentioned.
• Actual Paradise Cruise Line/Margaritaville at Sea passengers for FY22 were 145,204 versus only 13,937 in FY21 YTD, as our cruise line business resumed to pre-pandemic schedule except for a portion of December and April when Grand Classica was in dry dock for repairs and then rebranding to Margaritaville at Sea, and a hurricane at the end of September. 

Job Opportunities 

Port Executive Director- Closes December 27, 2022


Facilities Worker III/ Switchman

Port of Palm Beach Toy Drive Big Success

With the help of Urban Youth Impact, Port of Palm Beach's Executive Director Manuel Almira & staff members presented Azure Estates Property Manager Beatrice Nieves with 550 gifts for children living in the City of Riviera Beach  neighborhood. 

The Port thanks all our tenants and members of the public who helped make a difference. 

WATCH VIDEO HERE

VIEW PHOTOS

Port Staff Promotion

Join us in congratulating Tacaria Anderson Jones (A.K.A. “T”). 

T, who began her career at the Port in 1998, has been promoted to Senior Manager of Contract Compliance and Accounts Receivable. 
Her responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of accounts receivable.  In addition to monitoring, interpreting, summarizing and ensuring compliance with tenant agreements, she also prepares current and potential customer rate proformas and resolves tenant requests and concerns. 

T has proven to be a loyal, dedicated and genuine employee who enjoys working closely with our tenants.

If you see her around, please congratulate her for all her years of hard work.  

Christmas at Sea

The Port of Palm Beach Seafarers' Center is spreading holiday cheer to mariners working this holiday season. The organization has been delivering Christmas gifts to the crew members of all the ships that have docked at the Port the past two weeks. A majority of the gifts were collected during the Port's 2022 Seafarers Care Package Drive held during the month of November. 

The Palm Beach Seafarers' Center thanks Port staff and tenants for supporting its "Christmas at Sea" initiative. 

Rail Tariff Annual Adjustment goes into effect January 1st

Margaritaville at Sea hosts Palm Beach Council Navy League  

The Navy League Palm Beach Council held its Annual Holiday Luncheon aboard Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. The group selected a meal from a custom menu. Amongst the almost 60 attendees, was Port Commissioner Dr. Jean Enright. Commissioner Enright provided the Council with an overview of the Port by showing them a promotional video and answering questions from the audience. 

Port of Palm Beach administrative offices will be closed on Monday, December 26, 2022 in observance of Christmas Day. We will resume regular business hours Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at 8:30 AM. 

The administrative offices will also be closed on Monday, January 2, 2023 in observance of the New Year. We will resume regular business hours Tuesday, January 3, 2022 at 8:30 AM. 

For immediate assistance call the Main Security Gate at 561-383-4144.

Book your next cruise getaway now 

Port of Palm Beach Commissioners participate in Meals on Wheels Pie it Forward Campaign

December Port Employees Work Anniversaries 

Congratulations to the following employees who are celebrating a work anniversary:

Manager of Purchasing and Procurement Tracy Carey- 21 years

Security Officer Juan Bedoya- 10 years

Facilities Worker and Rail Switchman Donta Smith- 1 year

Community Outreach 

Port of Palm Beach staff hosted several community organizations during the months of November and December. Each group listed below received a presentation from Port staff, Director of Planning Carl Baker and Pubic Information Officer Yaremi Farinas. The groups also witnessed the Port's operations in action during An escorted tour of the Port. 

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