Posted on December 19, 2024
Underscores Commitment to Growth, Community Engagement and Sustainability
The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority met for its final meeting of the year. Chairman Ric Campo opened the meeting with messages of gratitude and reflection on a successful 2024. He extended his sincere appreciation to Port Houston employees and key partners in the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), seafarers, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Houston Pilots, and the more than 200 private terminals along the Houston Ship Channel.
Reflecting on community engagement, Chairman Campo celebrated the well-attended third annual Community Resource Fair hosted by Port Houston on December 7. The event saw an engaged turnout with 3,000 attendees and nearly 60 partners providing services related to healthcare, workforce, and food distribution. “This has become a highlight of the year for us and something we are really proud of,” he remarked. The fair also featured musical performances from area students, including the Channelview High School mariachi band.
Project 11 Updates and Reflecting on 2024 Operations and Sustainability
Chairman Campo provided an update on the Houston Ship Channel expansion work, known as Project 11: Segment 1B dredging was recently completed and final reviews of the work were underway by Port Houston and the USACE. Once final acceptance has occurred (expected by January 2025), the Houston Pilots will be able to safely navigate two-way traffic in the entire newly-widened Galveston Bay channel to the Bayport Ship Channel,
“This milestone delivers immense benefits to our region, and enables safer navigation along the nation’s busiest waterway and more efficient vessel movements through significantly-reduced daylight restrictions,” said Campo. Dredging on Segment 1C continues and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025. With all Port Houston-led Project 11 procurement efforts complete, remaining Project 11 efforts are expected to be designed, procured, and managed by the USACE, with ongoing support from Port Houston.
During his report to the Port Commission, Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins highlighted no draft restrictions had impacted the channel in the prior twelve months, expressing gratitude to the USACE for their diligent channel work. “This accomplishment is noteworthy, considering the significant operational challenges faced this year, such as Hurricane Beryl and the brief ILA strike in October,” said Jenkins, emphasizing the importance of the Houston Ship Channel, which remains the number one waterway in the nation in terms of vessels and volume. “We’ve continued to work hard to keep the channel safe and flowing efficiently for all of Houston’s port,” he added.
Jenkins also highlighted strong cargo volumes through the public terminals, projecting that this year’s volumes will exceed 2023 in both containers and total tonnage. Container volumes rebounded dramatically in November after an expected softer October.
Barbours Cut and Bayport were up 9% for the year in total twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEU), with strong growth in both import and export loads, and container volume was on pace to surpass four million TEU for the year. Steel tonnage is also up 37% versus October, yielding positive year-over-year growth of 1%.
Port Houston also announced a significant milestone in its commitment to supporting small, minority, and women-owned businesses. Since the inception of the small business program in 2002, it has awarded over $1 billion in contracts to these enterprises. This achievement underscores Port Houston’s dedication to fostering access within its supply chain and the broader business community.
Port Houston was awarded six federal and state grants in 2024 totaling more than $57 million, supporting initiatives that benefit port infrastructure, cybersecurity, the environment, and surrounding communities. Notably, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) grant of $25 million will enhance grain export infrastructure, improve air quality, and serve as a first step toward improving nearby stormwater drainage systems.
The Environmental team was also recognized for its leadership by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA).
Additional Operations Updates
Three new ship-to-shore (STS) cranes that arrived at Bayport in late August were successfully commissioned in November and are now operational, increasing to eighteen the total number of STS cranes at Bayport. Five rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes that have arrived at Barbours Cut in November will start endurance tests this week, bringing the total number of RTG cranes to 147. Noteworthy, approximately 40% of the RTG crane fleet is now hybrid electric.
Community Impact Update
During this last meeting of the year, Chairman Campo also paid recognition to the Port Commission Community Advisory Council, noting “this group helps us better engage community stakeholders who have a vested interest in what we do and are connected to our mission.” Council members serve two-year terms, and a new group will be welcomed in 2025. Additionally, the Chairman highlighted the Council’s participation in the “Shoeboxes for Seafarers” initiative, led by the Houston International Seafarers Center. To date, this effort has resulted in 6,951 boxes collected this year, with 4,000 boxes distributed already.
During the meeting, representatives of the Coast Guard announced that its formal relationship with the Port of Houston Partners in Maritime Education program, which is designed to inform and educate Houston area high school and college students about career opportunities in the maritime industry.
Team Effort into 2025
Reflecting on the year’s achievements, Chairman Campo praised the collective efforts that contributed to Port Houston’s success and emphasized that Port Houston was a team that cares about the community around it. He extended warm holiday wishes to all and expressed excitement for the future, adding, “the best is yet to come for Port Houston.”
The Port Commission meets next on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
