Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Joseph Morris
Department: Port Everglades Division: Business Development
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Broward County, Florida, granting a nonexclusive, unrestricted Port Everglades cargo handler services franchise to SSA Cruise, LLC, for a ten-year term; waiving the new business requirement; providing for franchise terms and conditions.
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Why Action is Necessary
Pursuant to Section 32.22 of the Broward County Administrative Code (“Administrative Code”) and the applicable provisions of Chapter 94-429, Laws of Florida, Broward County (the “County”) must hold a public hearing prior to granting, renewing, placing on probation, suspending, or revoking a franchise.
What Action Accomplishes
Allows for the Broward County Board of County Commissioners’ (“Board”) consideration of the Resolution granting of a nonexclusive, unrestricted Port Everglades cargo handler services franchise to SSA Cruise, LLC, for a ten-year term.
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Previous Action Taken
Request to Set Public Hearing was approved by the Board on October 7, 2025 (Item No. 17).
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
This action supports the Broward County Board of County Commissioners’ (“Board”) Value of “Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives,” and the Goal of “Ensuring economic opportunities and a sustainable economy, with an emphasis on Broward’s lower and middle class.”
Ceres Marine Terminals, Inc. (“Ceres”), has held a cargo handler franchise at Port Everglades since May 8, 2012. On September 17, 2015 (Item No. 11-PH), the Board approved a nonexclusive, unrestricted cargo handler services franchise for Ceres commencing on November 4, 2015, through November 3, 2025.
Since the franchise was approved in 2015, Ceres has been acquired by Carrix, Inc. With the current Ceres franchise scheduled to expire in November, Carrix has submitted an application for a new franchise to be issued under the name of its separate subsidiary, SSA Cruise, LLC (“SSA Cruise”). SSA Cruise is a Delaware corporation that registered to transact business in the State of Florida on July 7, 2025, with principal offices located in Seattle, Washington.
Staff reviewed the cargo handler services franchise application against the enumerated criteria outlined in Chapter 32 of the Administrative Code. Staff's due diligence included, among other things: (a) corresponding with SSA Cruise’s representative to clarify franchise requirements; and (b) reviewing SSA Cruise’s corporate status, resumes of executive staff, list of managerial personnel, business history/experience, litigation history, insurance certificate(s), financial documents and creditworthiness, discharge of previous financial obligations to the County, compliance with all franchise terms and conditions and established rules and regulations of the County, required licenses and certificates, company programs and policies, list of equipment to be used at Port Everglades. Staff also reviewed SSA Cruise’s environmental history and found no infractions.
By submitting the signed franchise application, SSA Cruise has agreed to comply with all franchise conditions outlined in Section 32.24 of the Administrative Code.
Section 32.16(b)(10) of the Administrative Code requires first-time applicants for cargo handler services franchises to demonstrate their ability to attract and retain new business, which requirement can be waived by the Board for good cause. Because Ceres and SSA Cruise are affiliated companies, Port staff recommends that the Board waive the “new business” requirement, as defined in Section 32.16(b)(10) of the Administrative Code, finding that there is good cause for the waiver.
Based upon the review of the information submitted in the franchise application, staff recommends approval of the request for a cargo handler services franchise. Pursuant to Section 32.16 of the Broward County Administrative Code, the County is authorized to grant cargo handler service franchises for a term not to exceed ten years. While Port Everglades staff generally recommends, as a matter of best practice, that first-time applicants be granted an initial one-year term, in this instance, given that SSA Cruise is an affiliate of Ceres, staff recommends approval of a ten-year franchise term.
SSA Cruise also applied for a nonexclusive, unrestricted stevedore services franchise, which is the subject of a separate agenda item.
The Resolution to Publish Notice of Public Hearing and the signed franchise application documents were attached to the Request to Set Public Hearing Agenda Item that the Board approved on October 7, 2025 (Item No. 17).
Source of Additional Information
Jorge Hernández, Director, Business Development Division, Port Everglades Department, (954) 468-3501.
Maria Mallarino, Franchise & Business Permits Manager, Business Development Division, Port Everglades Department, (954) 468-0185.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
SSA Cruise has paid the required initial processing fee of $11,550, the annual fee of $4,200, and will pay an additional $37,800 in annual franchise fees over the franchise term, for a total of $53,550.