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Port Commission Of The Port News

22 Jun 2022

Port Houston Awards $450 Million in Contracts for Channel Expansion

(Photo: Port Houston)

The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority met in a special session and awarded two of the largest contracts in the organization’s history. The Commission approved the staff’s recommendation to award Weeks Marine and Curtin Maritime Corporation contracts totaling $430 million to complete the remaining Galveston Bay segments of the Houston Ship Channel expansion project.“It’s an exciting day for Port Houston and the entire region and the millions of people who rely on the Houston Ship Channel for their livelihood and to bring them essential goods,” Chairman Ric Campo said.

20 Oct 2021

Port Houston's Container Surge Continues

(Photo: Port Houston)

Port Houston recorded its seventh consecutive month of double-digit container volume growth as increased consumer spending continues in the U.S.Container activity for September 2021 was 281,500 TEUs, up 11% compared to the same month last year, the port said. Year-to-date, TEUs are up 16% compared to 2020.Port Houston said its steel imports are also up, increasing 161% this month compared to September 2020 and are up 28% year-to-date. This growth reflects increased activity in the energy industry.

13 Oct 2021

Great Lakes Wins $95 Million Contract for Port of Houston Dredging

The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority holds Special Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 12 and awards a $95 million contract for the first major dredge construction work to start on the billion-dollar Houston Ship Channel expansion and deepening program, Project 11.

The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority met Tuesday in a special meeting to consider the first dredge contract for Project 11, the Houston Ship Channel billion-dollar expansion and deepening program.Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC was awarded up to $95,375,349 to dredge 11½-miles of the 52-mile channel, widening a major portion of the Galveston Bay reach from 530 to 700 feet. The work includes the construction of a new bird island and oyster mitigation.Port Houston negotiated multiple options and selected the approach with the most reduction in overall NOx emissions…

15 Apr 2019

Houston Widens Ship Channel

The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority has decided to accelerate widening of the Houston Ship Channel, the nation’s busiest waterway.The Port Authority is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and other representatives of the federal government, as well as Port of Houston and Houston Ship Channel stakeholders, to obtain authorization and accelerated funding and completion, of a deepened and widened ship channel.“The Houston Ship Channel is open for business for all and will continue to be,” said Port of Houston Authority Chairman, Ric Campo.This project will be the eleventh significant widening and deepening of the channel since its conception…

03 May 2017

Port Houston Box Volumes Continue to Rise

Photo: Port Houston

“Port Houston handled close to 10 million tons of total tonnage, reflecting an increase of eleven percent over 2016,” Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther announced during the April meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. During the first quarter of this year, Port Houston facilities handled 607,000 TEUs. Guenther said the majority of this increase is largely due to an increase in container volumes, which showed an increase of 18 percent.

25 Jun 2015

Maersk Line to Stay at Houston Port

The world’s biggest shipping company, Maersk Line, and its affiliated shipping services, SeaLand and Safmarine, has agreed to continue to call at the Port of Houston after APM Terminals, a unit of Maersk Group, said it was permanently terminating its operations there, the Port of Houston Authority said. Under the deal, APMT has operated its own section of Barbours Cut terminal,  however; the lease will now be transferred to the port authority effective July 24. According to Maersk, its current services that call the Port of Houston Authority's terminals will remain unchanged and uninterrupted. "We remain committed to serving all of our customers for whom the Port of Houston is a critical gateway to their supply chains…

25 Mar 2015

Houston Port Throughput Up 22%

Activity across Port of Houston Authority docks continues to show strength as February 2015 tonnage figures reflected a 22-percent increase compared to February 2014. Executive Director Roger Guenther released the information today during the monthly meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. Guenther reported that the Port Authority's Barbours Cut and Bayport container terminals were particularly busy. A combined 40 percent more loaded containers than a year ago was handled. ". . . Our sharp increases in container volume are not just from East Asian services and diversion from the West Coast," Guenther said. The Port Authority, which handled a record 37 million tons of cargo in 2014, moved more than six million tons through the first two months of this year.

19 Dec 2014

Port of Houston Expecting Record Year

John Moseley, Sr. Director, PHA Trade Development; Ellen Goldberg, Indian Film Festival of Houston (IFFH) Board Member and Immediate Past President, Sister Cities of Houston; Port Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria; Sutapa Ghosh, Founder and Festival Director, IFFH; Atul Badwal, IFFH Board Member; and Port Commissioner John Kennedy

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.

23 Nov 2014

Houston Port Commission Approves budget

The Fiscal Year 2015 Operating and Capital Budget was approved Thursday during a special meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. Projections by the Port Authority anticipate increased revenues in 2015, driven in large part by an increase in both import and export container volumes, with an expected pullback in steel tonnage after a banner year in 2014. Overall cargo volumes at the Port Authority continue to grow, with total tonnage in 2014 five percent higher than the previous year. Total revenues are projected to increase by 1.6 percent in 2015. A capital improvement budget of $275 million will be supported by the cash flow from the current year and 2015.

27 Aug 2014

Big Increase in Port of Houston Steel Cargoes

More steel moved across the docks in July than any month since 2008, Executive Director Roger Guenther reported at the recent meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. Guenther also noted that PHA has achieved a record, with operating revenues in July 2014 of more than $24 million. Steel and bulk cargo support a solid 5 percent growth in tonnage, he said. More than 22 million tons of cargo moved across Port Authority docks during the first seven months. the highest tonnage in steel since 2008, 844,000 tons. Container volume was relatively flat compared to last year, but has seen a 4-percent increase in the number of loaded boxes year to date.

11 Jun 2014

Enterprise To Build Ethane Export Terminal On Houston Channel

Enterprise Products Partners will build an ethane export facility on the Houston Ship Channel, signing a long-term agreement with the Port of Houston Authority for use of its facilities adjacent to Enterprise's existing terminal at Morgan's Point. "The agreement is exciting for the port and the entire region in terms of creating jobs and fostering positive economic impact," noted Janiece Longoria, Chairman of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. The 30-year agreement is a significant transaction for the Port Authority that will enhance the value of the existing lease with Enterprise. The facility is expected to begin operations in the third quarter of 2016.

24 Apr 2014

Bayport Dredging a Step Closer; Barbours Cut Pending

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has furnished the Port Authority its draft permit for the Bayport Channel Improvement project, Executive Director Roger Guenther reported to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority today. The draft permit for Barbours Cut channel dredging will follow soon, he said. The projects at the Port Authority’s two container terminals, which will deepen the channels from 40 feet to 45 feet to match the depth of the Houston Ship Channel, are expected to begin shortly. Reporting on a recent Audit Committee meeting, Port Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria said the financial statement audit of the Port Authority for the fiscal year ended December 31…

25 Mar 2014

Dredging Permits for Bayport & Barbours Cut Expected Soon

Port of Houston logo

Following the recent meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority, the following news items  of note were released. The Port Commission approved a $68 million construction contract with Orion Construction L.P. for Bayport and Barbours Cut channel improvements. These significant dredging projects will begin, following issuance of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits and approval of its assumption of maintenance of the channels, Executive Director Roger Guenther reported.

26 Feb 2014

Positive Trends Mark Start to Port Authority 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…

28 Jan 2014

Port of Houston Meetings Rescheduled

The Houston Port Commission and Board of Pilot Commissioner have rescheduled meetings originally set for Tuesday, January 28 due to a forecasted mix of freezing rain and sleet, which they said could cause unsafe driving conditions The Port  Commission of the Port of Houston Authority will meet in regular session on Friday, January 31, at 9 a.m., followed by a meeting of the Board of Pilot Commissioners at 10 a.m. or immediately following the adjournment of the Port Commission meeting. The Port Commission Community Relations Committee will convene at 10:30 a.m. or immediately following the Board of Pilot Commissioners meeting. The meetings will take place in the fourth floor boardroom of the Port Authority Executive Building, 111 East Loop North (Exit 29 off Loop 610) in Houston.

25 Sep 2013

Mease Named to Houston Port Commission

Roy Mease

Roy Mease was appointed to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority by the City of Pasadena today. Port Commissioners serve two-year terms without pay. Mease was named to the seat previously held by Steve Phelps. Phelps had served as Port Commissioner since 1997. Mease has a private law practice in Pasadena. A member of the State Bar of Texas, he received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence degree from the South Texas College of Law. Mease serves as chairman of the Pasadena Second Century Corporation, which is the city's economic development entity.

25 Sep 2013

Finances Very Strong; Steel Drives Tonnage Growth

The Port Commission Congratulates Newest Commissioners

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.

26 Jun 2013

Port of Houston Tonnage and Revenue Up

Photo: Port of Houston

Tonnage is up this year at the Port of Houston Authority, with container tonnage through May up by 9%, Executive Director Len Waterworth reported at Tuesday's meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. Waterworth also reported that May operating revenue was at an all-time high of $20 million, up 4% or $800,000. This marked the first time in Port Authority history that operating revenue has exceeded $20 million. Year-to-date operating revenue of $96 million reflects a $4 million or 5% increase, again driven by strong container growth.

23 Jul 2013

Port of Houston, Princess Cruises Lock Two More Seasons

The Port of Houston Authority reached an agreement with Princess Cruises to make passenger calls for two additional cruise seasons, in addition to the sailings that will kick off later this year in November at the state-of-the-art Bayport Cruise Terminal. The agreement, which was approved by the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority today, calls for Princess Cruises to sail from the Bayport Cruise Terminal in Pasadena, Texas, during the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 cruise seasons. Sailings are expected to generate as much as $155 million of economic impact over the confirmed three cruise seasons, according to the firm Martin Associates. An estimated $3 million in state and local taxes is anticipated. Additionally, a total of 736 direct, induced and indirect jobs will be created.

05 Aug 2013

Houston Port Commissioners Approve Bayport Dredge Funding

Port of Houston logo

The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority has approved $296,000 in increased funding for maintenance dredging of the Bayport Cruise Terminal. The special meeting was held to amend the Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the maintenance dredging of the Bayport Cruise and Container Terminal berths. Meeting agendas are available on the Port of Houston Authority website: http://www.portofhouston.com/the-port commission/public-meetings/agendas.

06 Aug 2013

Dredging Funds Approved by Port Commission

In a special meeting held in Houston yesterday, August 5, the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority approved $296,000 in increased funding for maintenance dredging of the Bayport Cruise Terminal. The port approved a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the maintenance dredging of the Bayport Cruise and Container Terminal berths. portofhouston.com

22 Aug 2013

Port of Houston Records Upward Monthly Revenue

Port of Houston logo

Monthly operating revenue exceeded $20 million again in July 2013. The achievement was high on a list of positives that Executive Director Len Waterworth shared in his report to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority at its recent monthly meeting. Dredging projects have also been put in hand. The Port Authority generated $21 million in July operating revenue, surpassing July 2012's performance by $1.4 million or 7 percent. Year-to-date operating revenue of $135 million increased 4 percent, or $6 million. The Port Authority first exceeded $20 million earlier this year.

23 Sep 2013

Stephen H. DonCarlos Named to Port Commission

Stephen H.  DonCarlos

Attorney Stephen H. DonCarlos was appointed to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority by the Harris County Mayors and Councils Association on Sept. 19. The Harris County Mayors and Councils Association is an organization representing 26 cities in Harris County. Port Commissioners serve two-year terms without pay. DonCarlos was named to the seat previously held by Jimmy Burke. Burke  had served as Port Commissioner since 1999. An attorney with Reid, Strickland & Gillette, L.L.P., DonCarlos was elected as Mayor of the City of Baytown in May 2006.