With the addition of Hapag-Lloyd's Mediterranean and East Coast of South America services, Port Everglades is moving to the forefront among Florida's seaports that handle containerized cargo. The South Florida seaport's containerized cargo volumes are expected to increase by approximately 8 percent annually.

'This move by Hapag-Lloyd further solidifies Port Everglades' standing in the South American market and boosts our growth in the Mediterranean,' says Port Director Phillip C. Allen. 'Port Everglades already handles 15.6 percent of the South American market share in South Florida. This move supports a significant increase in market share.'

Port officials estimate that the weekly Hapag-Lloyd service will increase annual containerized cargo volumes from a record 864,030 teus in Fiscal Year 2006 to more than 925,000 teus after Hapag-Lloyd's first full year of operations at Port Everglades. Each service will call weekly to Port Everglades for a total of 453,000 tons transported in 39,000 containers that represent 61,000 teus. A TEU is a 20-foot equivalent unit (container), the standard measuring tool for the marine shipping industry.

With Hapag-Lloyd, which will be handled by marine terminal operator Florida International Terminals (F.I.T.), Port Everglades now hosts four of the world's top five container carriers including Maersk, MSC and Evergreen.

Mediterranean Gulf Express (MGX) Service rotation will include calls at Masaxlokk, Gioia Tauro, Livorno, Genoa, Barcelona, Valencia, Port Everglades, Houston and New Orleans.

The US Gulf-South America East Coast Loop 1/GS1 rotation includes calls at Veracruz, Altamira, Houston, New Orleans and Port Everglades.

Revenue generated from the new Hapag-Lloyd services is expected to reach $2 million in the first year at Port Everglades and grow to $2.7 million annually within five years.