Posted on May 11, 2026
HOUSTON – On Tuesday, April 28, the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority met for its regular monthly meeting, continuing a busy start to the second quarter as the organization marked a historic industry milestone and advanced long-term planning to support future growth.
Chairman Ric Campo opened the meeting with a recap of Fleet Week in Houston, which brought multiple U.S. Navy vessels and thousands of sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen to the region for more than 200 community events. Port Houston hosted three Navy ships at its public terminals, with more than 12,000 people touring the vessels docked along the Houston Ship Channel during the week.
Port Houston also recognized the 70th anniversary of the Ideal X, the first container ship. In 1956, Malcom McLean converted the World War II-era oil tanker into a container vessel that completed its maiden voyage from Newark, New Jersey, to Port Houston’s Turning Basin Terminal, carrying 58 containers. This journey marked a turning point for global trade by introducing standardized container shipping.
“Our port would not be where it is today without that first ship,” said Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston. “The creation of the standardized container reduced cargo damage and theft and provided incredible efficiencies.”
Since the arrival of those first containers seventy years ago, Port Houston has grown to be the nation’s fifth-largest container terminal, now handling 75% of the Gulf Coast’s containerized cargo. At the meeting, the Commission received an update that container volumes at Port Houston’s public terminals are up 2% compared with 2025’s record-setting year. Additional information was released on April 22.
Looking toward the future, Jenkins shared an update on Port Houston’s continued terminal expansion to meet projected cargo needs. Buildout and densification at Bayport and Barbours Cut Container Terminals continues to be underway and expected to meet demand for roughly the next ten years.
In addition, earlier this month, Port Houston filed a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit application to expand the Barbours Cut Terminal to the north, onto Spilman Island. The permit is one step in a broader, long-term evaluation that continues to consider multiple options, with any project requiring a formal Final Investment Decision by the Port Commission before advancing to detailed design, procurement, or construction.
During the meeting, it was also announced the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) had awarded Port Houston a $48 million grant through Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) to support the construction of a new container yard and the installation of a new exit gate at the Bayport Container Terminal.
These projects, part of Port Houston’s Strategic Terminal Operations & Resilience Measures (STORM) application, are designed to accommodate forecasted growth in goods movement demands while maximizing operational efficiency, facility resiliency, and safety for employees and terminal users.
Port Houston also celebrated the launch of the Anchored in Action community-investment plan, developed through extensive community engagement and aligned with corporate social responsibility goals across Houston Ship Channel communities.
Additional Meeting Updates
- The Commission approved two professional services contracts totaling $10 million to support permitting, design, and construction services for Houston Ship Channel and port-adjacent berth capacity needs.
- A separate $1.2 million contract was awarded for mowing and trash removal near neighborhood upland sites.
- The Commission recognized Jessica Shaver, Chief Administrative Officer, on her retirement after 15 years with the organization.
- The Port Commission approved the Port Authority’s Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), including an unmodified opinion with no findings.
- Port Houston noted progress toward its 2026 Strategic Targets, with priority initiatives on track.
The Port Commission will meet next on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
About Port Houston
For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel, including the area’s largest breakbulk facility and two of the most efficient container terminals in the country.
