Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Joseph Morris
Department: Port Everglades Division: Business Development
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE Third Amendment to the Passenger Cruise Terminal and Berth User Agreement Between Broward County and Balearia Caribbean Ltd., Corp. to extend the term for one year through November 30, 2027, and update other applicable business terms.
body
Why Action is Necessary
Broward County Board of County Commissioners’ approval is required to amend the Passenger Cruise Terminal and Berth User Agreement with Balearia Caribbean Ltd., Corp.
What Action Accomplishes
Amends the Passenger Cruise Terminal and Berth User Agreement with Balearia Caribbean Ltd., Corp. to extend the term for one year through November 30, 2027, and update rates and other business terms.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
October 20, 2026 (Item No. 4)
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.”
Balearia Caribbean Ltd., Corp. (“Balearia”) has operated fast ferry service for passengers and cargo between Port Everglades and the Bahamas since 2011. Balearia has no dedicated berth or cruise terminal but operates primarily from Berth and Cruise Terminal 21, subject to availability when multi-day cruise ships are in port. On November 14, 2023 (Item No. 19), the Board approved the current Passenger Cruise Terminal and Berth User Agreement with Balearia. The Board subsequently approved the First Amendment on October 22, 2024 (Item No. 14), and the Second Amendment on November 13, 2025 (Item No. 8), each extending the term by one year and establishing applicable business terms. The agreement, as amended (“Berth Agreement”), expires on November 30, 2026.
On March 21, 2024 (Item No. 14), the Board authorized negotiations with Balearia for a long-term land lease and development agreement to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain an exclusive ferry terminal on County-owned land adjacent to Berth 28A. Those negotiations are still underway and will not be completed before the Berth Agreement expires.
On October 20, 2026 (Item No. 4), the Board found good cause to waive the competitive selection requirements of Section 32.4.h of the Broward County Administrative Code, pursuant to Section 32.10, and authorized the Port Everglades Chief Executive Officer and Port Director, or designee, to negotiate an extension of the Berth Agreement with Balearia.
The proposed amendment would extend the Berth Agreement by one year, through November 30, 2027, and adjust the economic terms consistent with the annual escalations applied in other Port cruise line agreements. The amendment also includes a number of revisions to business terms to align with recent changes in state statutes or the Broward County Administrative Code.
The primary business terms of the proposed Third Amendment are summarized below. The following fees reflect a 3.5% increase from the current year:
• Port User Fee-Designated Vessel: $49,651 per month, effective December 1, 2026.
• Port User Fee-Non-Designated Vessel: An additional $8,275 for each month or portion thereof that a Non-Designated Vessel is berthed at Port Everglades solely for lay-in purposes.
• Terminal Use: The monthly Port User Fee includes six operating hours of terminal use per day. Effective December 1, 2026, use beyond six hours from the first use that day will be billed at $331 per hour.
• Passenger Wharfage: Charges apply to each passenger movement, including embarkation, debarkation, and in-transit movements, as follows:
o 0-75,000 passengers: $1.66 per passenger movement
o 75,001-150,000 passengers: $2.45 per passenger movement
o 150,001-225,000 passengers: $3.23 per passenger movement
o Over 225,000 passengers: $4.01 per passenger movement
• Security Deposit: The required Security Deposit is increased to $49,651
These fees are in lieu of the fees published in Port Everglades Tariff No. 12 (“Tariff”) for dockage, harbormaster fees, linehandling, terminal overtime, terminal electric, cruise passenger wharfage, security, and sworn law enforcement for the Designated and Non-Designated Vessels. Cargo wharfage and other fees, if applicable, remain payable under the Tariff.
Balearia operates sailings to and from Freeport and Bimini up to six days per week. In Fiscal Year 2026, its operations accounted for 142,718 passenger movements and generated $981,059 in Port revenue (unaudited). Balearia’s estimated regional economic impacts include 146 direct jobs, 76 induced jobs, and 95 indirect jobs; $19.646 million in personal income; $28.713 million in local business sales revenue; and $1.991 million in state and local tax revenue (see Exhibit 2).
The Third Amendment to the Agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney.
Source of Additional Information
Jorge A. Hernández, Director, Business Development Division, Port Everglades Department, (954) 468-3501.
Stacie Warren, Real Property Administrator, Business Development Division, Port Everglades Department, (954) 468-3706.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The Port will receive guaranteed revenue of $595,815 during the one-year extension period and additional revenue based on Balearia's actual passenger and cargo throughput.