FIT opening 32-acre cargo facility at Port Everglades

   Florida International Terminal LLC (FIT) is opening a 32-acre containerized cargo terminal at Broward County’s Port Everglades with double the number of entry gates and adding scales, heavy equipment, technology and increased stacking capacity. 
   FIT already is one of the largest cargo terminal operators at Port Everglades and is relocating to make way for the biggest capital improvement project in the port’s history. FIT opened at Port Everglades in 2005 and handles cargo from a variety of shipping lines.
   FIT said it experienced 17 percent growth during the 2017-18 fiscal year, with about 226,000 TEUs processed. Perishables cargo accounts for approximately 15 percent of FIT’s total containers volumes.
   “FIT is a terrific example of how a company can be born at Port Everglades and grow into a regional leader that brings international business and jobs to Broward County,” said Port Everglades Deputy Port Director Glenn Wiltshire during the inauguration Monday.
   Improvements at FIT’s new terminal include:
   • Six lanes entering the terminal with scales and two outbound lanes.
   • An appointment system will be implemented with a VIP lane for refrigerated cargo.
   • New yard tractor fleet and upgraded container-handling equipment.
   • Resilient information technology systems with quick disaster recovery abilities.
   • Addition of up to 350 new power plugs for refrigerated containers.
   “We have installed a lot of new technology to better monitor gate traffic and what is happening throughout the terminal,” said FIT Vice President and General Manager Klaus Stadthagen. “By improving efficiency we are helping our customers, the shipping lines, develop their business. Our success is dependent upon our customers’ success.”
   In the next five years, Port Everglades is investing nearly $1 billion in infrastructure improvements to increase cargo volumes. Expansion projects include adding cargo berths, installing super post-Panamax container gantry cranes, increasing the lift capacity on existing cranes and deepening and widening the port’s navigation channels.