Business View Magazine - July 2016 133
strongly believe that the Port of Palm Beach will play a
major role in the Cuba trade,” he says. “We’re sitting
in a perfect geographic location and our access from
the hinterland, through the Port, to a final destination
– not only to Cuba, but to other ports – is enhanced by
our rail connection, as well as by our roadway connec-
tion - the so-called ‘last mile,’ which is only improving.
Martin Luther King Blvd., which is the main road com-
ing into the Port of Palm Beach, is going to be expand-
ed into a four-lane highway. I hope that by five years
from now, I-95 will have a direct exit to Martin Luther
King Blvd. Our rail expansion is on the way. We are now
looking at our first phase, which will be to enhance the
entrance of the rail into the Port. And I think that five
years from now, we’ll definitely have another cruise
line here and I strongly believe that Tropical Shipping
most likely would have expanded into other areas in
the America’s hemisphere.”
Almira gives all the credit to his crew of 50 employees
who see to it that all of the Port’s operations continue
to flow smoothly and efficiently. “What I’m really proud
of is our staff, and as cheesy as it may sound, we
are here to help,” he states emphatically. “And when
we get a phone call or anyone raising a question, we
will be there to respond to it and make sure that the
challenge goes away. That is my commitment to this
Port. I’ve worked at other ports a lot bigger than Palm
Beach, but certainly none as friendly.”
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