Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Joseph Morris
Department: Port Everglades Division: Director’s Office
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO AUTHORIZE Port Everglades Chief Executive Officer to waive and/or reduce dockage and harbormaster fees set forth in Port Everglades Tariff No. 12 associated with the Broward County Sand Bypass Project, when such fees result from weather and/or sea state conditions exceeding safe operating limits, in a total amount not to exceed $1,800,000 for Phase 1 of the Project.
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Why Action is Necessary
Broward County Board of County Commissioners’ action is required to waive Port Everglades Tariff fees for the Project.
What Action Accomplishes
Provides for the waiver of certain Port Everglades Tariff fees for marine equipment deployed by Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC and related subcontractors performing dredging activities associated with the County Sand Bypass Project at Port Everglades Inlet.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT AND THE PUBLIC WORKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT RECOMMEND 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 accessible, seamlessly integrated investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices, manufacturing, resilient infrastructure, and environmental protection.”
On April 16, 2024 (Item No. 32), the County entered into an agreement with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC (“Great Lakes”) for Phase 1 of the Port Everglades Sand Bypass Project (the “Project”). The Project has been a priority for decades to address chronic shoreline erosion south of the Port Everglades Inlet (the “Inlet”). The Project creates and modifies northern Inlet infrastructure to collect and store sand to support the economical recovery and transfer of beach-compatible sand to the shoreline south of the Inlet. The Project is also expected to reduce the accumulation of sand in the Port Everglades Entrance Channel, which could adversely affect the safe navigation of large commercial vessels.
The Project requires the use of dredges, barges, and other marine equipment operated by Great Lakes. This equipment is subject to operating limitations based on wind speeds and/or sea state and, when those limitations are exceeded, must relocate to sheltered waters inside the Inlet for safety reasons. When the equipment is moored at a berth in Port Everglades, Great Lakes is responsible for paying all applicable Port Everglades Tariff (“Tariff”) charges. Depending on the equipment moored within the Port, estimated Tariff charges range from approximately $940 to $3,240 per day. Because these charges increase the overall cost of the Project to the County, the Public Works and Environmental Services Department has requested that the Port Everglades Department evaluate the potential reduction or waiver of certain Tariff charges.
The Tariff authorizes the Port Everglades Chief Executive Officer (“Port Director”) to waive or modify Tariff rates under certain circumstances. Specifically, Tariff Item No. 180 grants the Port Director broad authority to add, delete, waive, and amend Tariff items for business, competitive, and emergency purposes, as the Port Director determines to be necessary in the best interests of Broward County. Any action taken by the Port Director under this authority remains valid for a period not to exceed 12 months unless otherwise approved by the Board. Separately, Tariff Item No. 940 authorizes the Port Director to waive or reduce dockage fees in certain situations, including for vessels calling for a purpose that provides an express benefit to Broward County. This authority is limited to a maximum of $15,000 per vessel. Any dockage fee waiver exceeding $15,000 per vessel requires prior approval by the Board.
Since the Project commenced in November 2025, there have been 31 days through January 28, 2026, in which the marine equipment was required to relocate to a berth in Port Everglades due to inclement weather. If this item is approved, the intent is for the Port Director to waive dockage and harbormaster fees only when marine equipment is in the Port as a result of weather and/or sea state conditions exceeding safe operating limits, including the 31 days already identified. Great Lakes would remain responsible for linehandler, security, and all other applicable Tariff charges, including during weather-related berthing. Great Lakes would also remain responsible for paying all applicable Tariff charges, including dockage, when marine equipment is berthed in the Port for logistics and/or maintenance purposes only.
The proposed waiver would only apply to Phase 1 of the Project, which is expected to be completed by March 2027. Based on the number of weather-related relocations since work began in November 2025, staff estimates that the total Tariff waiver amount would not exceed $1,800,000. Any waiver exercised pursuant to this item by the Port Director will be reported on a quarterly basis to the Board.
Source of Additional Information
Glenn Wiltshire, Deputy Director, Port Everglades Department 954-468-3504.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The Port Everglades Department would waive Tariff fees not to exceed $1,800,000 over the term of the Project.