Port Commissioners Break Ground on One of the Top Infrastructure Projects to Date

On Friday, November 3, 2023, Port of Palm Beach District Board of Commissioners celebrated the commencement of construction for the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). 

The groundbreaking ceremony featured key speakers including Port Executive Director Michael Meekins, Chairwoman Dr. Enright, and U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration Director of the South Atlantic Gateway Region Branden Villalona. 

“Each project element serves on a small scale to enhance connectivity among three modes of transportation at the Port - waterborne, intermodal freight rail, and truck carried,” Executive Director Meekins said.

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Administration awarded the Port of Palm Beach a $13.2 million Port Infrastructure grant to support this more than $20M project. 

"The Port of Palm Beach's grant will address aging port infrastructure and space limitations to maximize container throughput. This will improve the movement of goods through the port.  This rail facility will reduce roadway congestion, enhance transportation infrastructure, and improve road safety.” said MARAD South Atlantic Gateway Director Villalona. 

The Port of Palm Beach plays a unique role among U.S. ports, with a remarkable 80% of the handled cargo being exported. As a crucial link to the island nations, particularly the Bahamas, the Port witnessed a 3.8% annual growth in containerized cargo in fiscal year 2022.  

“The investment we are making today will ensure the Port of Palm Beach can reach and maintain a maximum container throughput of 500,00 twenty-foot containers (TEUs) per year,” Executive Director Meekins said. 

                                                        FY 2023                FY 2022

Rail cars                               13,590                  14,698

TEUs                                   260,993                253,521

Break-bulk                          158,981                 98,257

Asphalt                                 92,036                 100,509                       

Cement                                79,091                  41,172

Recyclable Steel                  41,364                  53,776                     

Raw Sugar                           497,200                450,631

Molasses                              81,387                 108,526

Annual Holiday Toy Drive to Spread Joy to Children in Riviera Beach

The Port of Palm Beach and its generous tenants are delighted to announce the launch of the Annual Port of Palm Beach Holiday Toy Drive. Starting today, Monday, November 6 to Friday, December 1^st, the Port will be collecting new unwrapped gifts for children living in the Azure Estates neighborhood, which is located less than two miles from the Port of Palm Beach. The community’s property manager provided the Port with wish lists that were filled out by the children in the neighborhood.

VIEW WISH LISTS HERE 

With the help of several of our generous tenants, the Port has already raised almost $2,500 in donations from Port tenants CEMEX, Ozinga and SSI Petroleum. 

“As we come together this holiday season, we are reminded of the importance of unity and collective effort in making a meaningful difference in the lives of those less fortunate,” Port Executive Director Michael Meekins said. 

One of the Port’s long-standing tenants, Gulfstream Line and Heavy Lift Services has gone above and beyond to secure a shipping container from one if its clients, United Abaco Shipping Company. The container will be used to store the gifts donated by port tenants and the community. 

Vice President of Heavy Lift Services Tina Dias also brought one of its trusted trucking partners, Eastern Freight, on board to provide free transportation of the container to the neighborhood. 

There are three toy drop-off locations:

• Port Maritime Office Complex 1-E 11th St. Ste 600 Riviera Beach, FL. 33404 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Tropical Shipping Headquarters 501 Avenue P, Riviera Beach FL. 33404 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Heavy Lift Services Warehouse (only for port tenants) located across the molasses terminal from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Volunteers with a local nonprofit called Urban Youth Impact, will sort the gifts prior to a holiday event that will be held in the neighborhood in December.

Last year, the Port, its tenants, and residents of Singer Island contributed more than $6,000 worth of toys to children in the Azure Estates neighborhood.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER YAREMI FARINAS AT 561-319-0098.

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Margaritaville At Sea News and Promotions

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Job Opportunities

Tropical Shipping

Operations Maintenance Expeditor

Port Cargo Planner

Procurement Analyst

Port Equipment Checker

Port Mechanic

Import Specialist

Port Utility Person

Apply Here 

Or Contact Human Resources to set up an interview today at careers@tropical.com

Heavy Lift Services/ Gulfstream Line 

Forklift Operators

Truck drivers      
                
Please contact President Glen Dias at glen@gulfstreamline.com or Vice President Tina Dias at tina@gulfstreamline.com 

Learn about Heavy Lift Services

SSI Petroleum

Fuel Dispatcher I

Please contact Human Resources Manager Vivian Prescott by phone at 863-508-1406 or email vprescott@ssipetro.com.

About SSI Petroleum 

Palm Beach Parking

Southeast Hay Distributors 

Warehouse/ Forklift Operator

Semi-truck CDL Driver

Email resumes to sadams@southeasthay.com 

Port of Palm Beach administrative offices will be closed on Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24, 2023, in observance of Thanksgiving.

We will resume regular business hours Monday, November 27, 2023, at 8:30 AM.

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

November Work Anniversaries For 

Port Employees 

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

IT Systems Administrator James Aikens-Three years (November 5)

Security Officer Evins Daniel- 17 years (November 8)

Deputy Director of Port Operations and Administration Beatrice Greffin Pompey- 13 years (November 8)

Security Sergeant Jeff Farr- 17 years (November 9)

Accounts Payable Specialist Maria Matthews- 15 years (November 10)

Security Officer Lenworth Palmer- 6 years (November 22) 

Facilities Foreman Lawrence Kelly- 26 years (November 26)

Assistant Director of Operations Keith Leggett - 12 years (November 28)

Upcoming Commission Meetings

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

• December 21 (unless rescheduled by Port of Palm Beach Commission)

View agendas and minutes 

Listen To Board Meetings Online

Audio recordings of the Board of Commissioners Meetings are now accessible on the "Agenda Center." We have removed the webpage "Board Meeting Audio Recordings" from our website.

How to listen to meeting recordings?

1. Go to Agenda center
2. Scroll down to "Available Archives."
3. Locate the meeting you want to listen to and click on "Video" link adjacent to the "Agenda packet" link.

Please note, audio recordings of meetings prior to October 19, 2023, will only be available on the Port's YouTube channel. 

If you need assistance or have any questions, please email District Clerk Jackelin Machado.

Listen to the October 19, 2023 

meeting here