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PortMiami has recorded a 21% year-on-year increase in April 2015, its busiest month since 2004.
This continues an improved fiscal year, which started in October 2014 and in which throughput has been up by 12% from 426,000 teu to 477,400 teu.
The port is currently working on a dredging project, deepening the main harbour channel from 42 ft (13 m) to 50 ft (15 m), which is scheduled to be completed in the summer.
This will allow it to berth the 13,000 to 14,000 teu vessels which it expects to start calling after the Panama Canal expansion is complete, currently scheduled for March 2016.
In a statement, the port said: “PortMiami will be the only major logistics hub south of Virginia capable of handling fully laden post-Panamax vessels. Currently, PortMiami is receiving ships of up to 8,700- 9,700 teu but these are only arriving at the port half full. Come this summer, PortMiami will be ready to handle fully laden post Panamax vessels.”
Miami is not the only South-Eastern US port to have enjoyed a positive 2015. At Virginia, calendar 2015 volumes are up by 8.5% year-on year and, at Houston’s Bayport and Barbours Cut terminals, loaded container volume is up by 22%. At Savannah, April’s throughput was up by 26% year-on-year.