Eight months into the global pandemic, PortMiami is still feeling the economic impact of the suspension of cruise operations. However, PortMiami’s cargo operation has set new records while the port is also to preparing for the return of cruising.
While the port is most identified with cruising, PortMiami has a largescale cargo operation that has prospered through the pandemic.
In October, PortMiami handled more than 107,000 TEUs, setting a new record for the port. This increase of 1.5 percent made October 2020 the busiest month in cargo activity in the history of the port.
Officials attribute the strong cargo performance to a balance of global trade and more than $1 billion of completed infrastructure improvements. Such improvements include a deepened channel that can handle big ships requiring a 39-foot draft or deeper.
The port is now welcoming cruise ships to return to port and prepare for a return to cruising.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Horizon was is the first of the line’s cruise ships to return to a U.S. port since the summer months. Carnival had repositioned some of their ships during the summer in response to regulations governing crew and ship movements.
PortMiami noted that it is working closely with major cruise lines to establish new health protocols to accommodate the eventual safe restart of sailing.
Once cruising resumes, passengers of Norwegian Cruise Line will be able to enjoy the newly-completed Terminal B, nicknamed the Pearl of Miami. The terminal had originally been scheduled to open in late 2019, but later delayed till mid-2020.
PortMiami is looking forward to and preparing for a return to normal operations in the future.