Construction Begins on Port Infrastructure Development Program

This month marked the start of our Port Infrastructure Development Program; a project supported by a $13.2M grant from the U.S. Maritime Administration. The PIDP is set to enhance the Port's infrastructure and boost its operational efficiency. 

Key Enhancements:

• Revamped Main Port Gate: The redesign of the main port gate off MLK Blvd. will introduce additional lanes, streamlining truck entry and improving cargo transport efficiency within the Port.
• Advanced Truck Processing System: A new system will cut incoming container truck wait times by 50%, significantly reducing emissions and enhancing overall port operations.
• Expanded Freight Rail Capacity: The project will boost annual freight rail capacity by 116%, increasing it from 44,000 to nearly 100,000 TEUs. The addition of new rail tracks will also provide increased storage for railcars within the port.
• Reduced Truck Traffic: By expanding intermodal rail capacity, the project will eliminate 29,000 truck trips annually from the congested Interstate 95 corridor and surface transportation network.
• Job Creation: At least 105 direct jobs will be created during the construction phase, providing a boost to the local economy

The design build project is a collaboration between the Port, Gonzalez & Sons Equipment Inc., HDR, PSA Management, Transystems and Moffatt and Nichol. 

The project is divided into four phases. 

Phase 1: rail tracks west of Slip 2, a parking lot west of the molasses tanks and the refrigerated container area just east of the Port's main entrance.

Phase 2: Open South Gate to traffic, construct south track area and section of Sout Port Road 

Phase 3: Open Main Gate to traffic, close old interchange, and construct North Port Road and Avenue E

Phase 4: Complte remaining items

View Groundbreaking Ceremony Video Here

Margaritaville at Sea Starts 4-Night Sailings, With a Stop in Key West

This month marks the exciting debut of Margaritaville at Sea Paradise’s new four-night itinerary from Port of Palm Beach.

The voyage includes a fun-filled day at sea, a visit to the vibrant Key West, and a relaxing stop at Grand Bahama Island with its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. 

The last time the Port of Palm Beach had a homeported cruise ship call a destination other than the Bahamas, was back in the 1990’s. The Crown Monarch and the Crown Jewel offered luxury seven-day cruises with ports of call in Key West, Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Haiti. 

The cruise line will also continue offering its popular two-night and three-night sailings to Grand Bahama Island. 

Come January, guests sailing with Margaritaville at Sea can head to Nassau aboard the Paradise on a limited-release, four-night itinerary featuring port stops on Grand Bahama Island and Nassau, Bahamas, plus a fun-filled day at sea. These special four-night sailings are available only for select dates in January and February 2025. 

Cargo Tonnage Report

                                              Actual              Prior Year Actual

Rail Cars                                       11,391             12,293

TEUs                                            218,522           233,999

Break-bulk                                     32,941          132,373

Asphalt                                           107,748         79,356

Cement                                          170,384           79,091

Recyclable Steel                            38,070             41,364

Molasses                                       205,010            81,387

Raw Sugar                                     500,716           464,500

View Tariff #24-C and Freight Rail Tariff

in effect October 1, 2024.

Slip 2 Ro-RO Ramp Repairs Underway

Tropical Shipping Celebrates 10 Years with Saltchuk

This month, Tropical Shipping held a celebratory lunch at the Port of Palm Beach to mark Tropical Shipping's 10th anniversary as a part of the  Saltchuk family of companies. This milestone represents a decade of growth, collaboration, and shared success. 

When Tropical Shipping joined the Saltchuk family of companies in 2014, Saltchuk added international shipping as a new line of business.  For over 60 years, Tropical has provided the fastest, most reliable transportation and logistics services to The Bahamas and the Caribbean.  From Canada to Guyana, and destinations between, Tropical Shipping meets customers freight-shipping needs with full-service cargo logistics, warehousing, and consolidation, state-of-the-art facilities in select seaside ports, as well as cargo insurance.

During the event, Tropical Shipping's President Tim Martin recognized Vice President of Operations and Marine Tim DiPietropolo for 25 years of service. Tim will be joining Saltchuk sister company Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG) in Tampa as President and Chief Operating Officer. 

Port Executive Director Attends Annual Florida Ports Council Board Meeting

Executive Director Michael Meekins was among the group of seaport directors and professionals who attended the Florida Ports Council annual board meeting at Port of Pensacola. Representative Kim Berfield provided valuable insights into the critical role of Florida's seaports. Her engagement with port leaders highlighted the importance of our maritime system. The board approved all of the Port of Palm Beach's requests for reallocation of funding. Here's a breakdown of the costs savings to the Port by project:

• $1.3M PIDP
• $1.2M Mullins Property repaving
• $1M cruise terminal escalators refurbishment

In addition, the board approved to reallocate an additional $265,000 from closed-out FDOT projects that finished up under budget towards the Port's parking lot and canopy needs. We also received, $172,000 towards replacing the Port's existing aging passenger screening equipment. 

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Nearly every aspect of daily life is made possible because a truck driver delivered the goods and resources people need. They play a vital role in seaports all across the country. It's the truck drivers who bridge the gap between ports and consumers.

If you see a truck driver in the Port this month, take a moment to thank them for their hard work and dedication. 

Bogan Cotton is a Bulk Transport Supervisor for Palm Beach and the Belle Glade divisions of SSI Petroleum. 

"I am blessed to work with a great team as well as top notch leadership! In addition to being the best place to work, I find it incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact of my contributions each day with our customers," Cotton said. 

Security Officer Federico Valverde Retires This Month

Federico Valverde, one of our cherished security officers, is set to retire.

Federico has been an integral part of our team since joining us in 2016, dedicating eight years of exceptional service. His commitment and hard work have made a lasting impact, and he will be dearly missed.

Federico’s final day at the Port will be Monday, September 30th.

New Employee/Tenant Request Form

This month, we announced the rollout of our new Employee/Tenant Request Form, designed to enhance our efficiency and communication. This new system will streamline how we track and manage your requests, ensuring greater transparency and organization.

To help you navigate this new system, Public Information Officer Yaremi Farinas created a comprehensive training manual. This guide will walk you through each step of the process. 

If you encounter any issues or have questions, please don’t hesitate to call the Port's PIO. 

Important Reminder:

• Submit All Non-Emergency Requests Through the Form: For efficiency, please use the new form for all requests except emergencies. Any request made by phone will be redirected to this form.
• Old Forms Deactivated: Please note that the previous tenant request and facilities forms have been deactivated.

To Request a training manual, please email Yaremi Farinas at yfarinas@portofpalmbeach.com

Join Our Care Package Drive for 

Our Seafarers

Social Media Buzz

Margaritaville At Sea News and Promotions

BOOK YOUR NEXT CRUISE HERE

Job Opportunities

Palm Beach Parking

Heavy Lift Services 

Forklift Operator/ Truck Driver

Email Glen Dias at glen@gulfstreamline.com or Tina Dias at tina@gulfstreamline.com

Tropical Shipping

Port Mechanic IV

Comp and Benefits Administrator

Inland Operations Coordinator

Contact Human Resources to set up your interview today at: apernsteiner@tropical.com or lvelez@tropical.com 

CEMEX

Terminal Operator

Operator Truck Lift

Supervisor Block Plant

View more career opportunities here

SSI Petroleum

Tank Wagon and Transport CDL Drivers-Riviera Beach and 

Fort Lauderdale

Mechanic Assistant-Belle Glade

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

About SSI Petroleum 

Ozinga

Quality Control Technician

CDL Bulk Driver

Southeast Hay Distributors

Purchasing and Logistics Coordinator

Please send resume to Scott Adams at sadams@southeasthay.com

Upcoming Commission Meetings

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

• September 19
• October 17
• November 21

View agendas and minutes 

Port of Palm Beach District Clerk Celebrates 20 Years at 

Port of Palm Beach

Jackelin Machado, known to many as "Jackie," joined the district in 2004 as an Office Worker and has since worked across various departments. While at the Port, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and her Master’s in Financial Valuation and Investment Management, both from Lynn University. 

During the August Board Meeting, Port Commissioners presented Jackie with a service award. 

"You have truly maximized your time with us, and we hope we have you for many more years and we are very proud of you," said Board Chairman Wayne Richards. “We all know I have young daughters in high school and college and as parents we speak to our children and colleagues about being productive. You have truly been extremely productive. When Executive Director Meekins read where you started and all of your progression, that is phenomenal.”

September Work Anniversaries For 

Port Employees 

Congratulations to the following employees who is celebrating a workiversary:

Executive Assistant Karen Emery- 8 years (September 1)

Facilities Superintendent Al Fawcett- 28 years (September 5)

IT Director Richard Laird- 21 years (September 11)

Program Developer/ IT Support Specialist Jordin Jones- 1 Year (September 11)

Janitorial Worker Michael Barnes- 1 year (September 18)

Financial Specialist Anthony Pantin- 1 year (September 18)

Procurement Manager Phil Ford- 1 year (September 25)

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." 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.

Port of Palm Beach staff and CEMEX Team Celebrate Jimmy Buffett Day

Riviera Beach Police Receives 

Mobile Command Center

The Riviera Beach Police Department’s new Command Center is a state-of-the-art mobile unit designed to enhance public safety and emergency response. Equipped with satellite capabilities, flat screens, and outdoor lighting, the center is fully expandable to accommodate various situations. 

Click Here to View Upcoming Events in Downtown West Palm Beach