This information copied from Forum posts as at 12 January 2017

FROM Ted Blank

Photo taken from the beach: http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=388608

If you are able to be there when the ships are departing (usually around 4:00 - 6:00pm), try to find a place to park near Point of the Americas condos - 2100 South Ocean Lane. Walk through the path to the beach and turn right. You'll see the ship channel just ahead, and can get quite nice pictures, although the sun can sometimes be a problem. Be careful with parking on the street, there are a lot of no parking zones and it is easy to get an expensive parking ticket.

The Balearia ferry to the Bahamas (Jaume I) departs most days at 8:00am and can also be seen from the Ocean Lane area. Sun is not a problem in the morning.

Otherwise, take the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi - see above, departs from near the Hilton Marina - and take either the Margaritaville Express or Hollywood route (www.watertaxi.com). You'll pass close to the ships.

FROM Captain Ted
At the Hilton Lauderhale Hotel, Grande Dr close to SE 17th Street bridge

There are ferries, yellow colors, at a little dock, one of the ferries make
3-4 times a day a cruise all the way down South and back,,passing the passenger and container temrinals
also a USCG base and some smaller stuff.
Another ferry sails to the north and there are plenty expensive yards on hat track but no commerical activities

here is the map

https://www.google.com/maps/@26.1015457,-80.121246,18z

FROM Bruno Boissonneault

If you are motorized the best thing to do besides the small ferries that cruise the harbour, is to drive to Dania Beach from Ft. Lauderdale. This will take you approx. 20 minutes depending on traffic. Find your way to the beach by either Dania Beach Blvd. or Sheridan, these two streets lead to bridges that cross the Intracoastal waterway. Once on the A1A road (Ocean Drive) head north until you reach the JOHN U.LLOYD BEACH STATE PARK. There is a 5$ park entrance fee as I recall for cars. Once there, drive to the very last parking, you may stop at a couple spots along the way and peek through the mangroves to see ships that are docked on the Intracoastal part of the port. Once at the parking you can walk to the breakwater and go quite far out to sea. This spot is good from morning to about 1600. The further out you go the more unobstructed view you will have, I was there both pre and post 9/11 and was never bothered despite spending hours standing waiting for ship movements. There is a beach right next to the breakwater where non-spotters can take in the sun. Fishermen are usually not taking all the space because pelicans do the most fishing around the breakwater.

Finally, cap or hat is a must as well as good sunscreen as there is absolutely , positively, no shade unless you withdraw from the breakwater.