Delegates from the municipal government and Port of Xiamen, China, are looking at Port Everglades as a successful model for expanding their own emerging cruise operations in Asia.

The delegation visited Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, FL, this weekend and was treated to a tour provided with an overview of a $54 million re-construction project to renovate four cruise terminals at Port Everglades, and provided with insights on air-sea passenger handling from neighboring Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

“Both our seaports are in the midst of significant growth and extensive capital improvement projects in both the cruise and cargo sectors,” said Glenn Wiltshire, Deputy Port Director for Port Everglades. “So even though we are half a world apart, it is fitting that Port Everglades and the Port of Xiamen learn more about each other’s operations and experience to take full advantage of East-West economic opportunities.”

Port Everglades, signed an International Sister Seaport agreement with Port of Xiamen in September 2007. To become an International Sister Seaport with Port Everglades, a seaport must commit to the free exchange of information pertaining to cruise and cargo operations, statistical information and general market research.

Located on the western side of the Taiwan Straits, the Port of Xiamen is one of the major coastal ports in China. The port is owned and operated by Xiamen Port Authority which is a department of the Xiamen Municipal Government. The Xiamen Port Authority administers six port areas that provide facilities for containerized cargo, dry and break bulk cargo, liquid bulk products and cruise and ferry passengers. It is the 19th busiest containerized cargo seaport in the world according to the World Shipping Council, handling more than 6.4 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units, the standard measurement for containers) in 2011.