Caption: Containers being unloaded from vessel to the Bayport and Barbours Cut Container Terminals.

What Can You Do With a Container?

We have grown accustomed to seeing these TEUs on the road, behind a truck as they are whisked away to their next destination, but they can actually be transformed and utilized in many different ways. This begs the question, What can you do with a container?

In Houston, you may see them around the city, integrated in the design of businesses, thus giving the container a second life. Local bars like Truck Yard in East Downtown area or 8th Wonder Brewery use them. Closer to the East End, a historic community near Houston’s port you can find them at various places, ranging from use as murals, to screen movies, or retail.

On average, a container’s lifespan for transportation of goods can range from 10 to 12 years before it is taken out of service. However, a container can very well last up to 50 years depending on its use and ongoing maintenance to avoid rust, a typical culprit in its deterioration.

Places to visit in Houston

Ironworks Building

Caption: Front of Ironworks Building in historic East End Houston

Captions: (Left and center photos) The Ironworks building houses various businesses ranging from vintage apparel, coffee, law group, tattoo artist, plant shop, and more using containers inside the warehouse space. (Right most photo) Here is the Cargo vintage shop with a tenant picking out some clothing.

“After researching the various uses of containers, I found that many were repurposed into homes so I decided to develop a different concept of designing them as creative workspaces. When I started developing my vision for IRONWORKS, I knew this would fit with the industrial look I wanted to capture in the space,” noted Andrew Kaldis, owner of Ironworks and Kaldis Development.

Caption: photo of container door used as table in the Ironworks Building conference room.

“I was able to establish a relationship with the right fabricator to alter the containers per my design. My hope for the building is that it continues to be a landmark for the area. It is very rewarding to contribute to a neighborhood and see it flourish,” noted Kaldis.

East ENd River Mural

Caption: David Maldonado, a local Houston artist devotes his time to create murals and other pieces of art that represent the city. Mural agency Muros hired Maldonado to complete the East End River Mural on Clinton Drive using containers as the canvas.

“My great grandfather and grandfather worked as longshoremen. To this day, my father and many family members continue to work as longshoremen as well. I feel proud and honored when I get to do a project with historical background,” said Maldonado.

Caption: David Maldonado puts the finishing touches on the East End River Mural displaying elements of Houston including NASA, the Port of Houston, nature and city scape.

“Art has a way of building bridges in the community and public art is a great way of doing that. This [East River Mural] is the first time I’ve worked with shipping containers, and I would use them for future projects. I think it’s great when things are repurposed and used in other ways.”

Moonstruck Drive In Cinema

Caption: Moonstruck Drive In is a new addition to the East End, the drive in utilizes stacked containers to screen movies outdoors. Families can watch old-time movies up to the most recent releases from the comfort of their cars.

Moon Tower Inn

Caption: Moon Tower Inn is an American restaurant specializing in game-meat and hotdogs along with a variety of beer for an outdoor pub feel. The bar area is housed in a container.

The post The After Life of a Container appeared first on Port Houston.

Caption: Port Houston's new electric vehicles. 

This fleet will be used by several Port departments, and three cars will be pool vehicles for employees. Electric vehicles are powered by electricity and have large batteries instead of combustion engines, meaning there are no tailpipes for exhaust. They plug in to charge. Port Houston’s maintenance department installed the charging stations and ran the electrical lines underground at the Port’s facilities.

“Port Houston’s 100 percent asset-based renewable electricity contract makes these electric vehicles truly zero emissions,” said Kelli Gallagher, environmental compliance coordinator for Port Houston. The Port is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 18 metric tons per year by using the vehicles.

The Port is also expected to save more than $400 a year per car as electricity is much cheaper than fuel. Life cycle savings are estimated at seven cents per mile. The vehicles each have a 259-mile battery.

“Port Houston staffers are excited and proud to be using electric vehicles. These vehicles are clean, meaning they pollute less, but they are also more efficient than gasoline-fueled vehicles,” said Mike Gignac, manager of central maintenance for Port Houston.

This effort is one of many measures Port Houston is taking to proactively build on its stewardship and environmental leadership strategy. “Port Houston continues to make greener, environmentally-friendly approaches to our operations as we are committed to being an environmental leader,” said Trae Camble, director of environmental affairs for Port Houston.

Learn more about Port Houston’s environmental initiatives here: https://porthouston.com/environment/.

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Caption: Jennifer Williams-Alcia

Jennifer Williams-Alcia’s career path at Port Houston has blossomed since she started working as an intern at the port in 2015. Today, she is a full-time employee – a mechanic, and also an ambassador, on the Port’s popular Sam Houston Boat Tour.

While the New York native had always wanted to be a veterinarian, that changed after she saw an advertisement for maritime education and became interested in being a merchant mariner. “The more I read on mariners, the more I learned about the industry,” she said. That led to her eventually applying to maritime programs, getting accepted to San Jacinto College and moving to Texas. She graduated from San Jacinto College’s Maritime Transportation Program in 2016 and began working at Port Houston full-time soon after that. Since those early days, she had her eyes set on a career in the maritime industry.

“Since working for Port Houston, my career has skyrocketed,” said Williams-Alcia. “Within a short amount of time, I was given the opportunity to advance from a deckhand to a mechanic, and I am on track to getting my captain’s license.”

The training to obtain her 500-ton Captain’s license requires rigorous testing as well as fulfilling numerous sea hours. Since the Sam Houston Boat Tour is itself an educational operation, Williams-Alcia had a uniquely holistic perspective on the importance of maritime education when she was asked to participate in the “Roundtable for Infrastructure” with U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Representatives Sylvia Garcia and Sheila Jackson Lee. She was invited to participate in the roundtable by San Jacinto College Chancellor Brenda Hellyer and Professor Amy Arrowood to share her perspective as a maritime student and professional.

“Being able to participate on the infrastructure roundtable with the highly-respected public officials was a great honor,” said Williams-Alcia.  “I felt incredibly grateful to have been included in such an important discussion. I was in awe to see how different organizations can work together to help each other and benefit the industry,” she noted.

Even though the Sam Houston Boat Tour is temporarily closed due to COVID-19, Port Houston has a virtual tour video that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE_RHOBnnGE. This video shows waterway activity during normal tour operations.

The post From Port Houston Intern to Sam Houston Boat Mechanic: Jennifer Williams-Alcia Spotlight appeared first on Port Houston.

Caption: Peninsula Road

The $12.7 million Peninsula Road construction project near Port Houston's Jacintoport and CARE Terminals has been completed. The two-way road was widened to accommodate three lanes inbound and one lane outbound and will greatly improve traffic flow and safety. The project was completed by Harris Co. Precinct 2 in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation and Port Houston. The improvement, which took nearly 18 months to complete, is expected to bring $123 million in benefits to the Houston region over 10 years.

The area was one of the most congested roads in the port region and resulted in a number of accidents. In addition to improving the congestion and safety of this area, the project benefits include decreasing supply chain costs. Rail crossing safety has also been improved, with train signals added at six locations and crossing arms at five of those locations. The rail crossings are operated by Port Terminal Railroad Association and Union Pacific.

Port Houston contributed $800,000 to the project. The Port also facilitated Harris County’s participation in the Texas Legislature’s Rider 48 Grant Program and the project was awarded up to $10.2 million.

“Port Houston is proud to have worked on sourcing project funding on behalf of our industrial and governmental stakeholders on this project and appreciates their involvement in making this happen,” said Bruce Mann, freight mobility director for Port Houston. “It has been great to be part of this project from the beginning, and to now see the de-bottlenecking that has occurred and the significant improvements to safety for both the railroad and roadway users.”

“This project will make a big difference in our county’s infrastructure,” said Adrian Garcia, commissioner for Harris County Precinct 2. “This road has been overdue for an upgrade to handle heavy truck use for many years, and I am very pleased that it’s now complete. I want to thank our partners at Port Houston and TXDOT for their hard work in upgrading this roadway.”

The post Peninsula Road Project Completed: Port Partnership Makes Moving Freight Safer appeared first on Port Houston.

Caption: Associated Testing workers.

Founded in 1959 by Edward Scearce, Associated Testing Laboratories is a pioneer for testing technology. It is a local small business with nearly 50 employees – an accredited multi-discipline engineering and testing firm that specializes in construction materials testing and geotechnical engineering.

Precise testing and accurate sampling are key factors to making sure construction materials meet engineering specifications, noted Javier Infante, executive vice president for Associated Testing Laboratories. From asphalt and concrete to soil or steel inspections, they handle a number of diverse projects, such as the Houston Ship Channel Bridge Project where they recently performed materials testing.

With the Port of Houston being one of the largest industrial complexes in the state of Texas, there’s no surprise that the company chose to become certified with Port Houston’s small business program.  

“The Port’s small business program is one of the best around compared to those that we have been involved with. There are no other programs like the Port’s,” said Infante. “The contract and training opportunities are well communicated by the small business staff.” The company’s exposure and knowledge about the Port has helped them win many projects through business development.

“It is organizations like Port Houston that keep our small businesses thriving in the community. There are many project opportunities available. We are fortunate to have had success and results with our involvement in the program by meeting prime contractors at Port Houston’s events,” Infante said. 

The company has also worked with both Houston airports, local school districts, METRO Houston, the City of Houston and Harris County.

Associated Testing Laboratories understands the value of engineering and supporting their people who work hard to make the projects happen. “Our people are the foundation of our company. We are committed to their development, motivation and recognition,” said Jasbir Singh, president of Associated Testing Laboratories. “The primary purpose of our business is to provide prompt, accurate and cost-effective geotechnical and construction materials testing.”

The post Associated Testing Laboratories Sees Growth, Opportunity Through Port Small Business Program appeared first on Port Houston.

Cheryl D. Creuzot has been appointed to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority by the City of Houston.

Creuzot is the president and chief executive officer of Wealth Development Strategies, LLC, a position she has held since 2001. The company, which is one of Houston's oldest comprehensive financial planning firms, offers personalized solutions for individuals and business professionals who want to protect, grow and efficiently distribute their wealth.

She is a director at the Greater Houston Partnership and on the board of several organizations, including: The University of Houston Board of Visitors, the University of Houston Foundation and the Board of Visitors of the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Creuzot succeeds Theldon Branch III, who has served as a Port Commissioner since 2013.

Stephen H. DonCarlos has been reappointed by the Harris County Mayors and Councils Association as Port Commissioner. He was first appointed in 2013 by the association, which is an organization representing 26 cities in Harris County. DonCarlos chairs the Governance Committee and serves on the Community Relations Committee.

DonCarlos was elected as mayor of Baytown in May 2006 and served in that capacity for more than twelve years. He is an attorney with Reid, Strickland & Gillette, L.L.P.

Wendy Montoya Cloonan was also reappointed to the Port Commission by Harris County Commissioners Court in late January. She was originally appointed to the position in June of 2019, succeeding former Port Commissioner John D. Kennedy, who retired after serving on the commission since December 2012.

Cloonan most recently served as Director of Legal for the Houston Endowment. Before joining the Houston Endowment in 2015, she was an attorney with Andrews Kurth LLP and Vinson & Elkins LLP. On the Port Commission, Mrs. Cloonan serves on the Community Relations Committee, Compensation Committee and Procurement and Small Business Task Force.

Port Commissioners are responsible for providing guidance to the Port Houston executive team and enacting appropriate policies to ensure that the Port continues to lead as an economic engine for the region, state and nation. These policies can involve adopting plans, such as Port Houston’s new strategic plan adopted earlier this year. Other Commission responsibilities include approving the purchasing or disposing of real estate and other property, setting rates and adopting budgets.

Learn more about the Port Commission here: https://porthouston.com/leadership/the-port-commission/.

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Container activity at Port Houston, the largest container port on the United States Gulf Coast, began slowing in late March as expected due to the coronavirus pandemic, but was still up for the first quarter of 2020..

Port Houston handled a total of 248,280 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) in March, a drop of 11 percent compared to March of 2019, when 280,721 TEUs were recorded.  However, for the full year, Port Houston handled 773,087 TEUs through March, compared to 694,167 TEUs for the same period last year. That marks an increase of 11 percent for the first quarter. 

The latest data from PIERS shows that while the U.S. container trade overall has contracted by more than 5 percent year-to-date, Port Houston has expanded by a similar amount. Nevertheless, in March Port Houston saw a total of seven blank sailings.

Port Houston’s Bayport and Barbours Cut container terminals are important to the local, state and national economies as well as the supply chain, Executive Director Roger Guenther noted. Cargo moving across our docks reaches some 100 million residents as well as exporters and manufacturers throughout America’s heartland.

“We must remain open for business to help international commerce continue during this difficult period,” Guenther said. “We also must support the economy with the necessary infrastructure to rebound when this global pandemic is brought under control.”

The post Port Houston Container Volumes Slowing, But Remain Steady appeared first on Port Houston.

Caption: Container-on-barge transiting along the Houston Ship Channel.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced its latest round of grants for its America’s Marine Highway Program. Port Houston was one of nine U.S. ports awarded funding, receiving a grant for development of a business case study to explore options of building a container-on-barge facility.

Continuously striving for innovation and a diverse business portfolio, we will use the $180,000 grant to create an Operational Plan to determine if building a container-on-barge facility, located near either of our two container terminals, is a feasible option.

This study is part of an effort to explore potential for future growth and opportunities for infrastructure modifications. “This grant is an opportunity for us to explore new avenues for handling freight with greater efficiency, as volumes in this region continue to grow,” said Rich Byrnes, chief infrastructure officer for Port Houston. “We are honored to be a grant recipient and to work with MARAD.”

This is the second grant that Port Houston has received from MARAD. The first grant, for $10 million, was to build wharf 2 at the Bayport Container Terminal.

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With a desire to aid local commerce and to promote economic development and job creation, Port Houston has commissioned a disparity study to evaluate equal opportunity and fairness in its procurement and contracting process. A public meeting was held Oct. 22.

Port Houston has partnered with Griffin & Strong, a law and public policy consulting firm, to complete this study. The study will gather information necessary to determine whether all qualified firms have the maximum practicable opportunity to compete for and participate in Port Houston’s procurement of prime contracts and associated subcontracts and, if indicated by the evidence, will support the use of strategies to ensure such opportunity.

At the October port commission meeting, Port Chairman Ric Campo expressed his enthusiasm and support for the process and welcomed the opportunities the study will present.

Gilda Ramirez, who oversees Port Houston’s small business program, lauded Griffin & Strong’s involvement.

“We are happy to have Griffin & Strong on board to help us ensure that we are reaching minority audiences and the public when it comes to our procurement and contract opportunities,” Ramirez said.

The post Port Houston Disparity Study Launched appeared first on Port Houston.

Port Houston is focused on developing the workforce and helping drive success of small businesses in the Houston region. In 2019, the port held a small business industry forum on doing business with port maintenance services.

“We are an operating port with more than 3,000 assets and pieces of equipment, which is where small businesses support us when we have projects at our terminals,” said Mike Gignac, general manager for maintenance services for Port Houston’s Turning Basin terminal. Port Houston purchases maintenance-related products and services ranging from wharf cranes to technology and paper products.

Our small business development staff also shared the port’s procurement system and registration requirements to become eligible to bid on Port Houston work.

“This event is designed to help local small businesses meet some of the buyers and decision makers to learn about the port’s needs for goods and services in specific departments,” said Gilda Ramirez, senior director of small business and education outreach for Port Houston. 

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