This week, Port Everglades welcomed its new Chief Executive/Port Director Steven Cernak to the South Florida seaport. Cernak replaces Phillip C. Allen, who recently retired after leading Port Everglades since 2006.
“Port Everglades and its business community are primed for continued growth. It is my goal to facilitate that progress in a manner that focuses on job creation and efficient spending, ” Cernak says.
At the top of Cernak’s list are three critical expansion projects for Port Everglades that are projected to create 7,000 new jobs regionally and support 135,000 jobs statewide over the next 15 years. These key expansion projects are planned to be constructed over the next six years and will add five new cargo berths in the Port’s southernmost area, widen and deepen the channel to 50 feet and bring freight rail into the port.
The Port is also beginning a $54 million renovation project for four cruise terminals at Port Everglades. The terminals – 2, 19, 21 and 26 – will be able to accommodate cruise ships of various sizes and guest capacities. All will be able to process embarking and debarking passengers at the same time. All terminals will have two passenger loading bridges, separate and larger baggage halls, and improved ground transportation areas. The renovations are part of a public/private partnership between Port Everglades and Carnival Corporation.
“Mr. Cernak has big shoes to fill, but his experience as a port director and background in seaport engineering will be valuable assets to continue moving Port Everglades’ expansion projects in the right direction ,” says Broward County Administrator Bertha Henry.
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Dredging Today Staff, March 13, 2012; Image: porteverglades