Brian Penoyer News

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, Calif. and the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) in New London, Conn. agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on April 14 extending for five more years their previous three-year direct collaboration on joint research projects and exchanges. The extension is a result of the Tri-Service Maritime Strategy (TSMS) released in December, which underscored the need for joint cooperation in today’s security environment.

Trelleborg’s marine systems operation has again supported the U.S. Coast Guard by delivering a third training session in ensuring the safe, secure and clean transportation and use of liquefied gas in U.S. waters. As liquefied gases become a major commodity across the U.S., there is a critical need for the coast guard community to understand the systems used on board liquefied gas ships and how these work with onshore facilities. Richard Hepworth, President, Trelleborg Marine Systems, explained, “The liquefied gas industry is now well-established in the U.S, particularly along the Gulf Coast. Understanding how to carry out ship to shore connections for both liquefied gas carriers and fueling operations is essential for all coast guard personnel…

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.

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.

The Houston Ship Channel has been fully reopened today following Monday’s ship collision and subsequent salvage operations. The Houston Ship Channel was reopened Thursday morning after responders completed initial salvage plans on damaged chemical tanker Carla Maersk and moved the vessel to Barbour's Cut turning basin, the Central Texas Coastal Area Committee (CTCAC) reported. The Carla Maersk incurred significant damage following a collision earlier in the week between it and bulk carrier Conti Peridot.

Two ships have collided in the Houston Ship Channel, according to Houston Marine Safety officials. A portion of the busy Houston Ship Channel was shut Monday after the collision of two 600-foot ships in fog, causing a leak of flammable liquid. Methyl tertiary-butyl ether, or MTBE, a gasoline additive aboard the Danish-flagged chemical tanker Carla Maersk, leaked from tanks that ruptured in the vessel's collision with a 623-foot Liberian bulk carrier, Conti Peridot, Coast Guard Petty Officer Manda Emery said. Officials believe the collision caused a breach in three of the containers storing the MTBE. The leak has since been secured, officials said. The amount of MTBE that leaked was not immediately known.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has authorized limited marine traffic in the safety zone in the Port of Houston/Galveston for commercial ship traffic, Tuesday. Cleanup operations are still ongoing; however ships are being prioritized for transit by the Port Coordination Team. The USCG said barges are allowed to transit through the Houston Ship Channel and on the Intracoastal Waterway, after assessment teams deemed the channel clear. "The cleanup operations progress is to the point…

During the annual meeting of the Houston Ship Channel Security District (HSCSD) November 21, 2013, public safety, homeland security and police agencies will display infrastructure and equipment funded by the HSCSD used to mitigate threats and protect the Houston Ship Channel. Harris County Sheriff's Office, Houston Police Department and U.S. Coast Guard ­- Houston-Galveston and other agencies will display response equipment outside the Houston Marriott South hotel and give updates on security measures during a news conference.

During the annual meeting of the Houston Ship Channel Security District (HSCSD) November 21, public safety, homeland security and police agencies will display infrastructure and equipment funded by the HSCSD used to mitigate threats and protect the Houston Ship Channel. Harris County Sheriff's Office, Houston Police Department and U.S. Coast Guard Houston-Galveston and other agencies will display response equipment outside the Houston Marriott South hotel and give updates on security measures during a news conference.

A new commander of Coast Guard units in the Houston-Galveston area & Captain of the Port in those areas has relieved his predecessor during a change-of-command ceremony in Clear Lake. Capt. Brian Penoyer relieved Capt. James Whitehead, who is retiring from the Coast Guard after 26 years of service. As the commanding officer of Sector Houston-Galveston, Penoyer will oversee multi-mission operations from maritime homeland security to maritime environmental response. Prior to assuming command of Sector Houston-Galveston, Penoyer was a U.S.