Bayport Container Terminal News

More than $241 million in discretionary grant funding has been awarded for projects to improve U.S. port facilities, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced on Thursday.The grants, which will go to 25 projects in 19 states and one territory through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), are intended to help strengthen America's supply chains to meet heightened demand and help address inflationary pressures, the DOT said.“U.S. maritime ports play a critical role in our supply chains,” said U.S.

US-based construction company McCarthy Building Companies began construction in Oct. on a new container yard within Port Houston, located in Pasadena, Texas.According to a press release from the 150 years old company, the project with Port Houston, will be a 45-acre expansion on the existing Bayport Container Terminal in continued efforts to grow and modernize the port.The development will aid in the port’s ability to serve the continued growth of Houston’s container exports of finished petrochemical, agricultural and other products made in Texas and imports of consumer items like food, clothing and furniture to support the fast-growing regional population.“McCarthy is proud of our long-standing relationship with Port Houston…

During the second quarter 2017, Konecranes received an order for 9 RTGs from Port Houston, Texas, USA. This is a repeat order, the first Konecranes RTGs to Port Houston were delivered in 2003. The nine cranes will be delivered to Port Houston Bayport Container Terminal in early fall 2018. Port Houston is an economic engine that produces jobs and economic prosperity for the local and state economy. It is the largest port on the Gulf Coast, the biggest port in Texas and the only port in Houston. Port Houston strives to be America’s hub for the next generation. The purchase of the new RTGs will support the peak demand brought to Port Houston by the next generation container vessels.

In anticipation of increased opportunities for inbound consumer goods and outbound industrial commodities, Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co. have joined forces to operate a new direct all-water container service between the U.S Gulf and Asia. The new service by the 2M Alliance features the Lone Star Express by MSC and TP18 by Maersk. The first sailing is scheduled to depart Asia May 2, with Houston as the first U.S. inbound port call. The Lone Star/TP18 Gulf service will have a rotation of Qingdao, Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Yantian, Busan, Cristobal, Houston, Mobile and Miami.

In anticipation of increased opportunities for inbound consumer goods and outbound industrial commodities, Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co. have joined forces to operate a new direct all-water container service between the U.S Gulf and Asia. The new service by the 2M Alliance features the “Lone Star Express” by MSC and “TP18” by Maersk. The first sailing is scheduled to depart Asia May 2, with Houston as the first U.S. inbound port call. The Lone Star/TP18 Gulf service will have a rotation of Qingdao, Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Yantian, Busan, Cristobal, Houston, Mobile and Miami. The estimated inbound transit time to Houston is 26 days from Yantian and 23 days from Busan. The vessels deployed will have a capacity of about 4,500 twenty-foot–equivalent units (TEUs).

The first phase of a 300,000-square-foot temperature-controlled cargo facility will be built at the Port of Houston Authority’s Bayport Container Terminal by AGRO Merchants Group, which provides cold supply chain operations globally. Upon completion, the new facility will add to the infrastructure already in place at Bayport, which opened in 2007 and is one of the newest container facilities on the Gulf Coast. Negotiations between the Port Authority and AGRO Merchants Group regarding construction and operation of the refrigerated cargo center had been under way for some time and were successfully concluded recently. Plans call for the…

Barbours Cut Container Terminal (BCT), part of the Port of Houston Authority, has completed its implementation of the Navis N4 terminal operating system (TOS). The go-live is part of a larger effort underway at the Port Authority to update terminal operations to more modern hardware and software technology platforms. The Port of Houston Authority, which operates the Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Bayport Container Terminal, handles about 67 percent of all containerized cargo in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. This represents approximately two million TEUs annually between the two terminals. The Port Authority’s container handling facilities are among the most advanced operations in the nation.

The Port of Houston Authority hosted Congressional leaders on port matters for a facilitated visit and tour of the Port of Houston, Friday, June 5. Congresswoman Janice Hahn, Congressman Ted Poe and Congressman Brian Babin visited the Port of Houston and learned more about the national impact of the Port of Houston overall and in particular its safety and security measures. The visit was arranged upon the invitation of Congressman Poe, who along with Congresswoman Hahn co-chair the PORTS Caucus, which represents more than 100 ports across the nation.

The Port of Houston Authority is expecting 2014 to close as a banner year for the port, with 34 million tons of cargo handled through November, Executive Director Roger Guenther reported to the port commission of the Port of Houston Authority at its monthly meeting Tuesday. "Container volumes are on pace for a record year, and steel imports are set to surpass the previous tonnage highs set in 2008," Guenther said, adding that cargo operations for November reflect a 15 percent increase in container TEUs and an 82 percent growth in steel imports, year over year.

Notable accomplishments in revenue generation, cargo throughput, professional performance and international recognition highlighted today's monthly meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority (PHA). Executive Director Roger Guenther, in his first meeting since being named to the post, characterized January's numbers as "a very exciting start to the new year" with operating revenue of more than $20 million. Guenther cited across-the-board increases in all major areas of cargo as the driver behind a 3-million-ton month for January, which was 15 percent higher than the year before. A contributor to that January figure was 400…

William Wachel has been named a Senior Supervising Engineer, Ports and Marine, in the Houston office of Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global infrastructure strategic consulting, engineering, and program/construction management organization. In his new position, Wachel will manage ports and marine projects throughout Texas and the Southeastern United States. Wachel comes to Parsons Brinckerhoff following 25 years with the Port of Houston Authority. He most recently served as Managing Director in the agency’s engineering department…

Vice President Joe Biden visited the Port of Houston Authority's Bayport Container Terminal Monday to highlight the importance of ports and the Panama Canal expansion. His next stop is Panama, where he will tour the expansion project, set for completion in 2015. Biden focused on investments in the Port of Houston that have triggered a 48% increase in exports. He also acknowledged the port is responsible for almost $500 billion of economic activity annually, which contributes more than two million jobs around the country. "Infrastructure matters and ports matter the most," Biden said.

PHA Signs Memorandum of Friendship & Trade Cooperation With Port of Marseille-Fos, Provence Promotion Economic Development Agency. Finances are very strong for August, Executive Director Len Waterworth shared in his report to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority at its monthly meeting today. "I am very pleased to announce that we had another $20 million+ month, that's four out of eight this year, extremely good," Waterworth said. Waterworth also reported August's net income of $11 million, up $7 million or 212 percent.

The Port of Houston Authority has been awarded a $10 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to be used toward the expansion of the berth at its Bayport Container Terminal. The Bayport expansion was prominently mentioned by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as a prime "example of a project that will help jumpstart local and national economic growth," in its announcement that $474 million for 52 TIGER grants had been awarded to 37 states this year.

Port Commission approves Barbours Cut, Bayport, crane deals, new Bayport gate system. Corporation for four electric wharf cranes at Barbours Cut Container Terminal. The Port Commission also amended a contract with Konecranes for eight diesel electric container yard cranes for Barbours Cut to include three additional diesel electric container yard cranes for the Bayport Terminal at a cost of $5.9 million. The growth in containers is a leading indicator for the need for expanded facilities at Bayport to provide present and future customers with consistent, efficient service, as well as improvements in the truck gate technology at Bayport. Port Authority Executive Director Len Waterworth noted that growth seen in April largely was due to containers.

First female Chairman, two new Port Commissioners, to  release Port Industry Capital Investment Survey at the meeting. During the commission meeting, results of a major survey on capital and maintenance investments made by manufacturers for infrastructure along the Houston Ship Channel will also be released. Construction jobs and tax revenue are anticipated to increase significantly due to these investments. Port Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria was appointed during a joint session of the Harris County Commissioners Court and the Houston City Council earlier this month. She has served on the Port Commission on behalf of the City of Houston since September 2002. Joining Longoria in new positions on the Port Commission will be John D.Kennedy and Dean Corgey.

Houston port commissioners approved about $15m in new contracts for the Bayport container terminal, mostly for dredging to accommodate larger vessels. That $12.8m contract went to Orion Construction. The job includes dredging to the east and west of the wharves and construction of new mooring points. The Port of Houston Authority Commission also approved a $1.25m change order to an existing Orion dredging contract for the Bayport cruise terminal. Orion requested the additional money after encountering tires and debris in the dredge area, which complicated the job, port officials said. The first phase of the cruise terminal, which is under construction, is scheduled to open in the spring of 2008. The first phase of the container terminal opened earlier this year.

will require heavy-capacity forklift and yard tractors. Included in the provisions are: a change order to McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. for $180,938; a $68,000 increase in the professional services contract to Lockwood Andrews and Newnam, Inc. tractors for Bayport Container Terminal for an estimated $650,000.

The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) will consider $1.4m in contracts and projects for the Bayport container and cruise terminals to permit it to meet future demands -- including a new 50-acre container yard -- that will require heavy-capacity forklift and yard tractors. Among the considerations are: a change order to McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. for Bayport Terminal Complex Phase 1 Container Yard -- Stage 1 for $186,929; a change order to Morganti Texas, Inc., for Bayport Cruise Terminal Complex -- Phase 1 Terminal Building for $180,938; a $68,000 increase in the professional services contract to Lockwood Andrews and Newnam, Inc.

TOOA third berth planned at the new Bayport container terminal will be redesigned, after larger than expected ships began calling at the facility. Bayport's lead tenant, CMA CGM, is bringing vessels of almost 1,000 feet long. The Port of Houston Authority was not aware the French company would be using the 998-ft. ships at Bayport. Previously, CMA CGM mostly had been using 950-ft. vessels, which could more easily be accommodated. The Port of Houston Authority Commission approved a contract increase of more than $480,000 Tuesday for Dannenbaum Engineering to cover the additional design work for the expansion. The planned Berth 3 wharf will be 332 feet longer to provide berthing space for two ships. Additional dredging and moorings also are needed due to the larger ship sizes.

About 800 elected officials, port commissioners, community leaders, labor leaders and representatives of the maritime industry turned out on February 8 to watch the arrival of a new era in the containerized cargo market. The Berth of Bayport Container and Cruise Terminal provided the 800 guests the opportunity to witness the opening phase of the most technologically advanced container terminal on the U.S. Gulf Coast. The Port of Houston Authority dominates the U.S. Gulf Coast containerized cargo market. Currently, PHA handles 64 percent of that market along the U.S. Gulf, and 94 percent of the waterborne containers moving through Texas. Most of that activity takes place at PHA's companion container terminal at Barbours Cut.