Port Houston maiden voyage plaque presentation with Port Houston staff, UAL representatives, M/V MarMalaita vessel Captain Slepchenko and stevedore Schroder Marine.

Universal Africa Lines (UAL), a conventional ocean transportation carrier that specializes in handling project cargo, breakbulk and containers, has announced that it will now call Port Houston’s City Docks as part of its U.S. Gulf/Mexico to West Africa liner service. The change was effective with the first regular vessel call of the M/V MarMalaita July 10.

UAL offers two to three sailings per month direct from Houston to West Africa. The company specializes in servicing the oil and gas industry and tailoring logistics solutions for clients shipping to difficult areas. UAL also has a fleet of more than 4,000 containers including reefers, high cubes, open tops and flat racks, with the ability to provide a multitude of shipping options, including door-to-door service.

UAL chose Port Houston due to the available dedicated laydown area for project cargoes and berth availability, both of which provided added flexibility to UAL’s multipurpose fleet. This is particularly important considering the host of UAL’s cargoes that range from helicopters to subsea trees.

“Port Houston is excited about our new partnership with UAL and that they are entrusting us with their services here at the port’s city docks,” said Dominic Sun, director of trade development for Port Houston.

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Port Houston was featured at the East End Chamber of Commerce’s Steel Forum Dec. 11.  The event focused on the steel trade and its impact to the economy. Chief Commercial Officer John Moseley and steel experts with JSW Steel, the American Institute for International Steel and Triple-S Steel Supply Chain Co. served on a panel.

Steel is one of the biggest components in cars, trucks and trains. “Port Houston is the no. 1 port in the United States for foreign waterborne tonnage in part due to products like steel,” said Margaret Kidd, panel moderator and program director for supply chain and logistics technology at the University of Houston.

JSW Steel is the fastest growing steel company in the U.S. with its platemill complex in Baytown. “We have set a standard in Texas,” said John Hritz, president and CEO of JSW Steel, who noted the company imports slab steel through Port Houston.

“Houston is by far the largest steel receiving port in the U.S.,” said John Foster, chairman of the American Institute for International Steel. Panelists all shared that the capacity of steel has increased, and that industry must adjust.

This year, Port Houston has handled more than 3.7 million tons of steel through the end of October, Moseley said. Port Houston also manages one of the busiest foreign trade zones in the country. “We are a very diverse port with a balanced mix of trade lanes,” he added.

The event was held at the Federal Reserve Bank.

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Port Houston, the largest breakbulk and general cargo port complex in North America, hosted the annual Breakbulk Americas 2018 conference in Houston for the seventh time in a row.

More than 4,700 attendees from around the world gathered at the annual trade show and exposition held Oct. 2-4 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston. The exhibitors and sponsors included executives from leading specialized ocean carriers, freight forwarders, ports/ terminals, logistics providers, road, rail, barge and air transportation, export packers, and equipment companies.

Breakbulk Americas is the biggest show for project and breakbulk cargo transportation specialists in the Americas, with special events, workshops and one of the largest trade and maritime exhibition halls of its kind. Conference session topics included the breakbulk outlook, market trends/future opportunities, transportation connectivity and technology innovations.

Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther participated in the ribbon cutting and provided opening remarks on day two of the conference.

“We are proud to be the Host Port sponsor,” noted Guenther. The conference provided business opportunities for attendees. 

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Shippers, freight forwarders and a host of others came from far and wide to converge in Houston for the Breakbulk Americas 2017 conference Oct. 17-19.The event was held at the George R. Brown Conference Center and was hosted by Port Houston for the sixth time.

Attendees heard from industry experts during the conference sessions, which focused on issues ranging from project freight and project to steel challenges and beyond. Port Chairman Janiece Longoria provided a welcome video message to attendees.

“We are thrilled to once again host this annual event, bringing thousands of top-tiered shippers together with breakbulk and general cargo service providers. We are continually working to diversify our overall cargo mix at our port, and that includes our breakbulk facilities. Breakbulk Americas has become a tradition for us here in Houston, and we are proud of that,” said Longoria.

The conference had an estimated economic impact of $3.6 million to the greater Houston region.

More than 5,000 maritime industry professionals, including general cargo owners, terminal operators, ports authorities, ocean carriers and logistics companies gathered at the annual trade show and exposition. It is the largest exhibition of its kind in the Americas.

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Port Houston hosted a Steel Roundtable event with over 40 participants, including steel traders, manufacturers and other industry partners Sept. 28 at the port’s executive building.

Port Houston’s Senior Director of Trade Development John Moseley provided opening remarks to the crowd. Director of General Cargo Facilities Randy Stiefel, provided an update on current port breakbulk and project cargo-related projects, port capital improvement projects and the status of the port after Hurricane Harvey.

Steel is an important commodity segment for the U.S., and the port has seen an increase of 40 percent of steel cargo volume this year. John Foster, chairman of the American Institute of International Steel, and Richard Chriss, president of the Institute, reported that imported steel and iron supports 1.3 million jobs in the U.S. and contributes $239.8 billion to the U.S. economy.

Port Houston handled 2.23 million tons of steel in 2016.  

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