Economic indicators for the Miami River continue to be positive, especially as reflected in the river's robust maritime trade activities which show Caribbean economies currently enjoying an upward trend. As a working river, the federal navigational channel provides vital shipping links to the Caribbean, and to Central and South America, serving as an important engine for Miami-Dade's local economy by offering thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The river's shipping industry documents steady growth over the last five years, with 1997 cargo values reaching an estimated $4 billion. Industry leaders on the Quality Action Team concur that the Miami River should be able to maintain - and enhance - its position among Florida's five largest ports, particularly in the shallow-draft Caribbean niche.

In addition to cargo and marine industry, other commercial aspects of river business are also enjoying renewed vigor. Evidence of increasing commercial viability can be found in infrastructure improvements, marina development, recent investments in abandoned waterfront properties and a growing number of interesting river destinations becoming more familiar to the public in the form of attractive restaurants, neighborhood parks, river "landmarks" and the celebration of River Day '97.

Problem: Reports of concern that a 1996 proposed River/Port Authority, if created, would affect the viability of the river's marine industry by adding a duplicative layer of government and increasing costs for river businesses, perhaps forcing industry to move elsewhere in order to remain competitive. Extensive public discussion by many community organizations concluded that the establishment of an Authority as a solution to the river's problems would be ineffective; nevertheless, a means to find a balance among all concerns of the river (downtown, residential/marina) was needed to assure continued prosperity and continuous improvement.

Industry Snapshot Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock Co. FY/1996-97 Operating Revenues: $8.2 million (up from 1996's $7.3 million) Full-Time Employees: 100 Annual Payroll: $2.6 million Boat Repair Jobs: $250,000+ 7 Value of Physical Plant: $6 million Property Taxes: $175,000

Solution: Continued commitment to and broader participation by the river community in the Quality Action Team, continued education efforts and publication of the QAT's second Annual Report, and full participation in the legislatively created Miami River Study Commission to assist in moving toward that balance.

Innovative and cooperative problem solving continues to characterize the QAT approach, with an expanded participation from river homeowners associations in 1997. Ongoing education efforts, particularly as embodied in the QAT Annual Report, effectively challenge the perception that "nothing ever happens" to improve defined problems on and along the river. The QAT was upheld as a model of governance and public/private partnership for the Miami River Study Commission whose task it was to determine a future course of management for the river. Recognizing the importance of the QAT and attempting to assure its permanence, the Miami River Study Commission recommended that the QAT should be formalized with a Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement shared among key participants and encouraging the QAT to continue in the future under the leadership of the Captain of the Port.

Economic Indicators

Cargo Carrier & Shipping Industry Viability

Among the larger river carriers, Antillean Marine reported growth in volume as a carrier of 807 goods, requiring the tandem acquisition of a new terminal, a new warehouse, new warehousing capabilities and a new vessel. The company's 10-vessel fleet is augmented by an extensive array of modern containers, top loaders fiberoptic security and a state-of the art tracking system. A neighbor of comparable size, Bernuth Agencies, has also grown with Caribbean economies. Bernuth uses 10 vessels of 110 to 180 TEU capacity to serve 24 ports in the Caribbean, Guyana and Surinam, employing its own tugboats to service ships in negotiating the river.

Smaller liner services also exhibit positive growth indicators. In 1997, Miami Ship Services, Inc., broke its historical record for the amount of freight revenue earned in a single trip, with the installation of a terminal/vessel racking system that allows a greater number of cars to be shipped in order to meet increased demand. The smallest terminals on the river and those most affected by the new environmental and safety standards of the U. S. Coast Guard's Operation Safety Net have seen marginal vessels -smaller, older wooden freighters - replaced by larger, newer steel-hull cargo vessels with container capabilities.

Problem: Competition from the newly developed state-of-the-art port in Freeport, Bahamas, may take business from the Miami River.

Solution: Maintain integrity of the Working River.

The need for shallow-draft transshipment services, the river's competitive non-union labor costs, and the multilingual, multicultural character of the river mean that the emergence of an offshore Caribbean hub is likely to benefit the river's transshipment business, provided that it remains competitive. The river terminals' land access also provides competitive advantages.

Phone: (305) 637-7977
Fax: (305) 637-7949
Email: [email protected]