Recently the Dania Cut has seen two big developments: (1) the dredging of the canal to 15-feet and (2) Dereketor Shipyards assembling of the second largest travelift in the USA.
The dredging barge has been in action since July, and although inhibiting navigation, she is a welcome sight. And as it is offseason with most yachts in the Mediterannean, she is not inhibiting too much. The deeping of the canal to 15-feet will allow the yards such as Dania Cut, Broward, Playboy, Harbortown, Powell Brothers, Associated, Derektors, and Royale Palm to service the ever larger superyachts that cruise our shores. From my office at Royale Palm, I check on the dredging daily and note its signs such as murkier than usual water flowing into the basin.
Derektor’s montrous 900-ton travel lift towers over the existing sheds. While erected, the lift is still under contruction and will not be operational until the superyacht season starts again in autumn. Rumor has it that a 180-foot motoryacht is scheduled to be the first to use the lift which will allow Derektor to fit more yachts in its yard than the current marine railway allows. I am excited to see the debut of this lift.
These two developments are fantastic signs that others believe and are investing in a prosperous future for the Fort Lauderdale maritime economy. Another sign is the expansion of the Fort Lauderdale International Airport with a runway which will overpass Federal Highway. For more, see my article on marine related statistics in Fort Lauderdale and the follow up which analizes trends in the Fort Lauderdale yachting market.