The Sam Houston II Tour Boat officially turns 64 on July 30th, 2022. The Sam Houston II provides a unique tour along the Houston Ship Channel and has been bringing joy to visitors of all ages. Unlike most boat tours, this is a completely free 90-minute ride that gives visitors a first-hand look at the Port of Houston and the maritime industry.

The very first tour boat was purchased by Port Houston in 1928. It was named the M/V R.J. Cummins after the longest-serving port commissioner at the time and carried about 24 passengers.

In 1948, the R.J. Cummins was replaced by the Sam Houston I. Port Houston bought an 85-foot inspection vessel which was converted from the hull of a World War II Coast Guard Cutter vessel. She was named the M/V Sam Houston I, in honor of the great liberator of Texas, and put into operation May 1949 taking up to 60 guests.

The current boat, M/V Sam Houston II, replaced the Sam Houston I after it had been in service for nearly eight years. The Sam Houston II was christened on July 30, 1958 when former Port Commission Chairman Howard Tellepsen’s 16-year-old daughter, Karen Tellepsen, wielded the champagne bottle against the Sam Houston’s bitt. Designed by L. B. Christenson Engineers, Inc., the Sam Houston II is 95 feet overall, has a 24-foot beam, and a maximum capacity of 100 passengers. It was outfitted in a manner comparable to a fine hotel carrying thousands of visitors from all parts of the world on cruises down the Houston Ship Channel.

In 1992, the current Sam Houston pavilion opened. For Port Houston’s 90th anniversary in 2004, a mural created by the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston, depicting Port Houston’s rich history was added to the exterior walls of the pavilion buildings.

Guests aboard the tour boat have included royalty, celebrities, and politicians from around the globe, but most are everyday tourists from here or anywhere in the world who want to learn more about Port Houston. The tour on the Sam is just one of the many ways Port Houston reaches out to the public in a long tradition of commitment to the communities adjacent to the Houston Ship Channel. Register for your tour today!

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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.

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Caption: Port Houston employees tour the M/V Sam Houston Boat Tour for the 60th anniversary.

First known as the “Beautiful ship to serve the Port of Houston” and a “show window to the port,” the M/V Sam Houston tour vessel was christened on July 30, 1958 and took its inaugural voyage through the Houston Ship Channel.

The Sam Houston Boat Tour has become a staple to the Houston community. It is the primary link between the port and the public. The vessel was named after the legendary military commander who led the fight for Texas independence from Mexico and later statehood.

“The Sam Houston Boat Tour is now extremely popular and we are proud to continue the tradition of offering this tour experience to local residents and visitors from around the world,” said Leslie Herbst, Port Houston director of community relations and events.

For 60 years, the port’s public tour has showcased the Port of Houston to nearly two million visitors. The M/V Sam Houston offers visitors a unique opportunity to get an up close look at one of the busiest ports in the country. Each year, nearly 30,000 visitors tour the Houston Ship Channel.

On average, Port Houston’s M/V Sam Houston operates 10 tours a week with the ability to carry 100 passengers per sailing. Passengers on the Sam Houston Boat Tour have included royalty, political leaders, astronauts, celebrities and visitors from all parts of the world.

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