The largest container cargo ship in the history of Broward County’s Port Everglades arrived on October 18 and was in port yesterday.

Mediterranean Shipping Company’s MSC Maria Elena is 107,849 gross tons, over 1,104-feet long and has a capacity for 9,178 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units). This post-panamax cargo ship is larger than a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.

Port Everglades opened a new, 41-acre container terminal in 2010 and has since grown its cargo business. In August, the ocean carrier Sealand announced it will begin making regular calls at Port Everglades as part of its new North Atlantic Express service. The new vessel call is expected to move an additional 20,000 TEUs through the port annually.

Port Everglades is also at the forefront of the expanding trade with Cuba. The Florida-based SC Line inaugurated ro/ro service between Port Everglades the Cuban ports of Mariel and Santiago on a route that also includes Panama and Colombia. Port Everglades also has shipping service to Cuba from Crowley Maritime since 2001 to carry food, humanitarian supplies, and other approved items.

The port benefits from service from Florida East Coast Railway which opened its Intermodal Container Transfer Facility adjacent to Port Everglades last year. The facility has seen a 26 percent increase in volume over the past 12 months. Prior to the opening of the facility in July 2014, containers were transported by truck to and from Port Everglades to off-port rail terminals in Fort Lauderdale and Hialeah.

Port Everglades is located within the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Dania Beach, Florida, has direct access to the interstate highway system, and located within 500 miles of 110 million residents and seasonal visitors.