PortMiami Handles Record 13 Ships In A Day With Careful Logistics

Through meticulous planning and preparation, PortMiami successfully managed a record 13 ships on a single day, setting the stage for even greater ship traffic in the future.

On February 8, the port experienced a historic day, according to Hydi Webb, PortMiami’s director and CEO, as it simultaneously hosted 10 cruise ships and three cargo vessels for the first time. The day also marked a milestone for MSC, which inaugurated the new cruise terminal on February 8.

“A lot of preparation went into this day,” said Webb, noting that extensive collaboration with cruise partners, cruise lines, and transportation companies played a crucial role.

The high ship traffic at the port is expected to continue, as PortMiami is on track to eventually accommodate up to 12 cruise ships at once.

“What we saw on February 8 was like a soft opening for the MSC cruise terminal,” Webb explained. “Once fully operational, the terminal will host three vessels simultaneously, which means we’ll be able to have 12 cruise ships docked at PortMiami.”

Managing the logistics of so many ships requires a coordinated effort. Webb described how preparations begin in the early morning hours.

“Pilots start boarding the vessels as early as 12:30 a.m. on Saturday to guide them in, with the last vessel docked by 7 a.m.” said Webb.

Frederick P. Wong, PortMiami’s deputy director, referred to this process as the “parade of cruise vessels.”

“Every half hour, a pilot boards a ship to bring it safely into its berth,” Wong said. “It’s truly an impressive feat to witness.”

The operation depends on the work of a large team. Each terminal employs around 150 support staff, including security personnel, ground operation teams, and stevedores who load and unload the ships.

Webb added, “Each vessel pulls into the port to provision for its crew, including food, goods, and drinks. On that Saturday, over 320 provision trucks came in just for the 10 cruise ships.”

Transportation also plays a vital role in handling the large volume of people.

“We had over 35 bus companies handling transfers to the airport alone,” Webb explained.

He emphasized the close collaboration between PortMiami and Miami International Airport (MIA), given their shared responsibility for handling travelers.

Reflecting on the successful day, Webb described the operation as “fantastic” and mentioned that improvements are always being made.

“We are constantly refining our traffic management strategies to ensure passengers can move in and out of the port as efficiently as possible, especially on days with such heavy ship traffic,” Webb said.

Source: Miami Today