It’s a new day at the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami-Dade.  Strong industry partnerships, a new emphasis on customer service and a focus on innovation and efficiencies are transforming how we do business.

For our cargo partners, this means moving the vital goods to customers more efficiently and more economically.  For the cruise industry, it means confidence that passengers will move easily through state-of-the-industry facilities on both departure and return from their adventures at sea.

Transformation occurs when a business re-aligns to a different or changing marketplace.  Certainly, the maritime industry is undergoing enormous changes reflected in a highly competitive, global economy. Our commitment as port employees can be nothing less than striving to be second to none in every aspect of how we do business.

This includes the numerous infrastructure enhancements already in place and important improvements to come – such as a 50’ foot cargo channel and the port tunnel linking our 528-acre island seaport to the interstate highway system.

Our commitment to excellence is demonstrated through customer service - each of the 400 men and women who work the port, including myself, have completed an intensive training course in customer service.    The Port of Miami now has an entire division – Maritime Services – specifically dedicated to productive interaction with customers and provision of timely and professional service.  We’re striving to be better every day.

Our new strategies are being implemented near and far.  We are paying close attention to important details at home—are our facilities clean and in tip top shape?  At the same time, we are literally covering the globe in an effort to solidify longstanding relationships with those we serve and pursuing new opportunities.  Over the past year, we have met with cargo and cruise partners from China, India, Europe, South Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean in our quest for new business.

We are working hard to improve our facilities. Another major step in this direction is the Miami Harbor Phase III Dredging project.  Miami-Dade County recently received federal approval to proceed with this project, which will deepen the port’s South Channel from 42’ feet, to a depth of 50’ feet, allowing the Port of Miami to handle some of the world’s largest vessels.  The significance of this project cannot be overstated in terms of the port’s ability to grow its cargo business.

Through open lines of communication and a solid business approach, we are actively engaged in fruitful partnerships with a full spectrum of cargo and cruise lines, labor and law enforcement officials, government leaders on all levels and economic development and tourism entities.  Simply stated, all our partners play a role in shaping a $16 billion-a-year economic engine that is the Port of Miami.

Since taking the helm as port director in June 2006, I have been privileged to lead this transformational initiative.  But the real credit goes to each and every person who works here, as a team, and to all those with whom we partner in taking our port to a new level of excellence.

On behalf of the Port of Miami,
Bill Johnson, Port Director