All of the Port Commissioners will play a role in this council, and this updated platform will help Port Houston leadership better engage community stakeholders who have a vested interest in what we do and who are, in some way, connected to our mission. Members of the council include representatives from Pleasantville, the West Gulf Maritime Association, Harris County, Air Alliance and recreational users of Galveston Bay, among others. The council members will serve 2-year terms. 

“Consistent with our recently adopted strategic plan where Partnerships is a strategic goal, this council will help promote deeper engagement and understanding between local communities and Port Houston, as we work to provide a more open line of communication and robust dialog opportunities,” said Ric Campo, Port Houston Chairman.

Port Houston is committed to building and strengthening partnerships with its surrounding neighbors and seeking greater community and stakeholder involvement in the activities of the organization.  “As a neighbor to many, it’s important that Port Houston continues to build strong relationships with the community. Whether working on smaller, very localized initiatives or something like the Houston Ship Channel Expansion – Project 11, those community relationships play a key role in our success,” said Leslie Herbst, director of community relations and events for Port Houston.

Learn more about our community engagement here: https://porthouston.com/community-outreach/.

The post Port Houston Continues Commitment to Community Engagement: New Port Commission Community Advisory Council Launched appeared first on Port Houston.

The Spirit of Melbourne called at Port Houston’s Bayport Container Terminal.

Port Houston received the maiden voyage and is the only U.S. port of call for a new direct service that global ocean carrier CMA CGM launched in July with Marfret. The MedCaribe service will connect the U.S. Gulf, Mexico, Central America (Costa Rica), the Caribbean and the Mediterranean markets. The first vessel, the Spirit of Melbourne, called the port’s Bayport Container Terminal July 15.

The rotation includes: Houston; Veracruz, Mexico; Manzanillo, Panama; Moin, Costa Rica; Algeciras, Spain; Malta; Livorno, Italy; Genoa, Italy; Marseilles, France; Barcelona, Spain and Valencia, Spain.

“Port Houston is excited to add this new service to our ever-growing global portfolio and looks forward to the positive economic developments that these markets will bring to Houston and the region,” said Port Houston Trade Development Director Dominic Sun.

The post Port Secures New CMA CGM/Marfret MedCaribe Service appeared first on Port Houston.

Port Houston’s maritime education program has gained momentum in recent years, providing professional opportunities for students in local school districts.

The program’s focus is to encourage area students to pursue career opportunities in the maritime, transportation or affiliated fields, including: logistics, freight, security and environmental affairs.

The port recently sponsored five maritime education graduation dinners for students in the region, highlighting program completion for this academic year. The schools included: Jack Yates Magnet High School, Stephen F. Austin High School, Galena Park High School, LaPorte High School and Pasadena Dr. Kirk Lewis Career and Technical High School.

“Part of the Port of Houston Partners in Maritime Education’s mission is to support our students in their continued advancement into the maritime industry,” said Gilda Ramirez, senior director for small business and education outreach for Port Houston. “One way of supporting them is to provide opportunities that will benefit their post-secondary education.”

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John Martin of Martin Associates presents at April Port Commission meeting.

Thousands of new jobs were created in and around the Port of Houston in 2018, as Texas’ most prolific economic engine has been continuing to create positive economic impact for the region, state and nation.

That’s the finding of the most recent study by Martin Associates of economic activity created by the port. The study that focused on 2018 was similar to Martin’s last comprehensive study of the port, which was in 2014.

In 2018, marine cargo activity at the public and private marine terminals at the Port of Houston and along the Houston Ship Channel supported a total of $339 billion of total economic value in the state of Texas. That includes Port Houston’s eight terminals, along with the estimated 200 private terminals along the Houston Ship Channel.

The $339 billion represents about 20.6 percent of the $1.6 trillion state of Texas Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Port Houston Chairman Ric Campo, who addressed Harris County Commissioners Court in April, told the commissioners that because the port is a national asset, the Martin study also covered the national impact.

“The port generated $801 billion in economic value, sustained 3.2 million jobs and provided $38 billion in tax revenue,” Campo noted.

The study is based on interviews with 986 different firms that provide services for the cargo and vessels handled at Port Houston’s terminals and the private terminals.

The post New Port Economic Impact Study Results Released appeared first on Port Houston.

U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, who presides over Texas’ 7th Congressional District, toured Port Houston April 23 with her staff, where they received a briefing on the Houston Ship Channel and the national economic importance of making waterway improvements.

The tour was especially timely for Fletcher, since she currently serves as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and co-chairs a task force on trade.

As part of Fletcher’s visit, Port Chairman Ric Campo and Port Infrastructure Officer Rich Byrnes took her aboard a fireboat where she received a firsthand view of the busy Bayport Container Terminal. She was also able to see the activity along the channel involving the numerous petrochemical companies that operate along the waterway.

The backdrop of the tour highlighted the Port Authority’s impact on innovation, economic value and job creation. Additionally, she was able to gain insight about the waterway’s challenges and potential opportunities.

The post Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Tours Bayport Container Terminal via Fireboat appeared first on Port Houston.

Port Houston invests in maritime education to help build and support the future workforce. More than 450 students and approximately 30 exhibitors attended the 2019 Maritime and Logistics Youth Expo held at the San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center April 26.

The expo featured presentations by mariners covering towboats, harbor tugs, barges, shipping forklifts, dredging, survey vessels and maritime salvage equipment. Logistics, distribution and transportation companies were on hand to share internship and career opportunities.

The port’s Small Business and Education Outreach department and the Port of Houston Partners in Maritime Education participated and supported this effort, where they helped students learn about different careers in the maritime and logistics industries.

The event also featured a splashing tugboat push competition and a simulated helicopter water rescue. The port’s emergency Mobile Command Center and a Port of Houston fire boat were on site and featured demonstrations. Games, learning activities, giveaways and a photo booth station were provided.

Academic partners included: Texas Southern University, Texas A&M Galveston, University of Houston, Houston Community College and San Jacinto College Maritime, which were all on hand to share maritime, logistics and supply-chain pathways and scholarship opportunities to students.

The event was organized and co-sponsored by Port Houston, Harris County Precinct 2, Houston Pilots, San Jacinto College and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The post 2019 Youth Maritime and Logistics Expo Puts Spotlight on Maritime Careers appeared first on Port Houston.

Port Houston team members spent April 13 volunteering at Marsh Mania, a popular environmental project, located at Virginia Point near Galveston. Port Houston team members joined dozens of local organizations and other community members for the nationally-recognized wetlands restoration project, where they planted stems of cordgrass to create new marsh habitat.

“Thanks to all our volunteers and their families for coming out to support this important cause,” said Garret Berg, community relations manager. “Coastal wetlands play an essential role in the overall health of Galveston Bay, and we appreciate all the individuals and organizations that participated.”

In its 21 years, Marsh Mania has involved more than 8,000 community volunteers in the restoration of roughly 209 acres of vital estuarine marsh habitat at 92 sites around Galveston Bay.

“Many of our outreach projects not only help improve the environment, but they also help us engage our Port Houston team members from across the organization in larger initiatives that have wide-reaching benefits we can all enjoy,” said Leslie Herbst, community relations and events director for Port Houston.

The post Port Employees Create New Habitat at 21st Annual Marsh Mania appeared first on Port Houston.

Port Houston welcomed a group of Gabonese officials and a representative of Houston-based energy company, VAALCO Energy Group, for a discussion on the port’s infrastructure, growth and investments April 17. Notably in attendance was the deputy director of the Prime Minister of Gabon’s Cabinet.

Chief Legal Officer Erik Eriksson and Chief Information Technology Officer Charles Thompson provided welcome remarks; and Senior Trade Development Manager Will Whitehouse delivered a commercial presentation.

Group discussion covered maritime trade and development along the Houston Ship Channel including energy, containers and project cargoes. Port Houston staff also provided the guests with information on port’s background and history, public facilities and the Houston Ship Channel’s economic impact.

The delegation’s purpose for visiting Port Houston was to discuss trade, investment and development opportunities.

The post Port Houston Welcomes Gabonese Officials for Commercial Discussion appeared first on Port Houston.

The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority approved the purchase of Motorola equipment at its March public meeting, including radios, batteries, chargers and related hardware under the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s cooperative purchase program.

Port Houston’s operations, emergency management and security personnel use radio technology equipment to maintain operations and security at all terminals and respond to incidents and other emergencies. This equipment is used as employees carry out assigned tasks.

The HGAC cooperative program was established in 1973 to enable government entities to obtain purchasing pursuant to the Texas Interlocal Cooperate Act.

Port Houston strives to safely protect and secure people and commerce.

In an average week, the Port Emergency Dispatch Center handles 876 calls for service, records 78 vessel movements and processes 57 gate requests.

The post Port Commission Approves Mobile Emergency Radio Equipment appeared first on Port Houston.

Port Houston Commission Chairman Ric Campo recognized the efforts of those responding to the ITC tank fire on the Houston Ship Channel that impacted the channel and surrounding neighboring communities.

“The response to the emergency event along the Houston Ship Channel was an amazing effort led by the port community,” he remarked.

Campo highlighted the “valiant” efforts of the Port of Houston Authority firefighters responding to the emergency. He made the remarks at the March Port Commission meeting.

Guenther reported that between March 17 and March 26, Port Houston firefighters spent 2,300-man hours worked on this incident and at least two of the three fireboats worked continuously throughout the event.

Initially, the tank fire farm was extinguished but re-flashed a few days later. Two fireboats remained in the vicinity conducting air monitoring for the safety of the surrounding communities. On Friday, March 22, the fire re-flashed shortly after chemicals and the water foam mixture from fighting the fire leaked into the channel via a drainage ditch.

Guenther noted that Port Houston’s firefighters immediately moored one of the fireboats and began providing firefighting water, while the other fireboat was stationed at the mouth of the drainage ditch to extinguish any fire before it reached the ship channel.

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