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Boating Headlines
2/1/2026
Port Everglades Towing Celebrates 43 Years of Service
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Port Everglades Towing, a
division of Hvide Marine Incorporated (Nasdaq: HVDM), in January celebrated
its 43rd year of service to Port Everglades and the people of Broward County.
Founded on January 23, 1958, by the late Hans Hvide and three partners, Port
Everglades Towing began its franchised operation with two tugs. At the time,
there were fewer than a thousand ship calls a year (i.e., less than three a
day) at Port Everglades, and the port's annual revenues had just topped
$1 million. Cruise passengers sailing from Port Everglades that year -- 1958
-- numbered 14,872, and they sailed on ships operated by such storied names
as Portuguese Lines, Grace Line, German Line, American Export Line, and Sitmar
Cruises (now Princess Cruises).
Today, by comparison, Port Everglades enjoys nearly 6,000 ship calls a
year (about 16 a day); has annual revenues of more than $75 million, and
services nearly three million cruise passengers annually. It is one of the
world's busiest cruise ports; the second largest non-refinery petroleum
storage facility in the U.S.; a favorite destination of the U.S. Navy, whose
annual Fleet Week celebration attracts tens of thousands of visitors, and the
nation's 12th largest container port. Situated in a scenic area of South
Florida, with an unmatched safety record, a reputation for quality service,
and dedicated to environmental protection, Port Everglades is often described
as a "showcase port" and the principal engine of economic development in
Broward County. It is responsible for creating jobs and generating millions
of dollars for the community in revenues, taxes and wages, and spending by
port industry employees and visitors.
"Part of Port Everglades' success over the years has been its
extraordinary safety record," commented Gerhard E. Kurz, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Hvide Marine, "and that is where we are proud to play an
important role. Our modern, purpose-built tug fleet incorporates the latest
in tractor tug technology and, working in close coordination with Fire
Department and Coast Guard personnel, provides round-the-clock firefighting
protection to both visiting ships and to port facilities. Port Everglades'
narrow channels and environmentally sensitive geography require the use of
highly maneuverable and powerful tugs -- operated by skilled personnel with
years of experience in the port -- such as the tractor tug Broward, introduced
in 1995, and the patented Ship Docking Modules(TM) New River and St. Johns,
introduced in 1998 and 2000, respectively.
"These vessels are unmatched anywhere in the world for their combination
of power and maneuverability," continued Mr. Kurz, "and they were designed and
built especially for the narrow confines of this port. The equipment in Port
Everglades is, in fact, the most advanced fleet of tugs serving any Atlantic
or Gulf Coast port, and this service is provided at rates that are among the
lowest on the Atlantic Coast and rival the lowest on the Gulf Coast. There
has, moreover, not been a rate increase in Port Everglades since 1994. In
this context, it should be noted that -- despite the increase in the number of
vessels calling on Port Everglades -- the number of tug jobs actually declined
in the last year. This is because most of the increase in vessel traffic
consists of cruise ships, which normally -- except in the event of inclement
weather or mechanical failure -- do not require tug assists.
"Altogether, the five tugs we have stationed here represent a $19 million
investment," concluded Mr. Kurz, "and there is nothing like them in any other
port on the Atlantic or Gulf coast. Our tug captains average more than 15
years' experience, and they are assisted by highly trained and capable crews.
Safety is the hallmark of all our operations, and we wouldn't have it any
other way. I like to think of it as providing peace of mind to the residents
of Broward County."
The "winning combination" of Port Everglades and Port Everglades Towing is
largely the result of the franchise agreement that has been in effect since
1958. Because the port is on county property and its operations, safety and
environmental protection are essential to the public good, it regulates harbor
towing operations like a utility. Through the franchise arrangement, the port
ensures that it will have available the highest level of equipment and service
on a round-the-clock basis, so that shippers, commercial and cruise ship
operators, and other port users can depend on safe and reliable tug service no
matter what the time of day or night.
Another benefit of the franchise arrangement is the revenue it generates
for the Port Department. Five percent of all harbor towing revenues go
directly to Broward County to help pay administrative costs. In 2000, this
amounted to $338,000 in fees.
With more than 100 employees based here, Port Everglades is also Hvide
Marine's "home port," the location of its worldwide corporate headquarters,
and has been ever since the Company's founding 43 years ago. Much has changed
since then -- what began as a small, private company with two tugs has grown
into a worldwide enterprise, publicly traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange,
with a fleet of nearly 240 vessels, more than 2,000 employees worldwide, and
annual revenues exceeding $320 million. The Company is run by a new and
highly experienced management team and an independent Board of Directors, who
are committed to making the Company a leader in the industry and to creating
value for its shareholders. But one thing has not changed, and that is the
Company's commitment to Port Everglades and Broward County, which it has
served faithfully for 43 years, and looks forward to serving in the years
ahead.
Hvide Marine is a leading worldwide provider of marine support and
transportation services, primarily to the energy and chemical industries. The
Company provides benchmark quality service to its customers based on
innovative technology, the highest safety standards, modern efficient
equipment and dedicated, professional employees. To learn more about Hvide
Marine, visit the Company on the Web at www.hvide.com.
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