New bulkheads are the focus of the climate change resilience projects at Port Everglades

Port Everglades has received a $32 million grant from the State of Florida to mitigate environmental threats from sea level rise and other possible causes of flooding in order to ensure continued access by marine vessels to the port.

The grant is part of the more than $275 million issued for resilience projects by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Port Everglades is planning to use the Resilient Florida Infrastructure Grant to replace aging bulkheads with higher new ones in the northern part of the port, which will help to reduce climate change impacts on the port and neighbouring community.

The bulkheads will be designed based on a projected 4.36-foot (1.32-metre) rise in sea level by 2095. The estimate comes from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' High Scenario Sea Level Rise based on the Fifth Assessment Report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Port Everglades will also replace the north entrance channel bulkhead, which will support the continued safe navigation of the waterway for all marine traffic, including cargo ships, cruise ships and energy vessels.