The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority met for its first regular meeting of the year on Thursday, January 26. Port Chairman Ric Campo opened the meeting by praising employees, partners, and stakeholders for achieving the highest general cargo volume in the history of Port Houston – 55 million tons in 2022 – marking tremendous growth for the eight public terminals serving the region.
Chairman Campo also announced a significant milestone of the Houston Ship Channel widening and deepening program – Project 11: “dredging is 99% complete on Segment 1A of the Houston Ship Channel.”
Segment 1A comprises 11½ miles of the channel along Bolivar Road to Redfish Island, and its completion will mean safer and more efficient navigation of broader and longer ships transiting earlier and later during the day, delivering more cargo and commerce to the region. The first phase of the $1 billion project started in June last year and is expected to be completed in February.
Executive Director Roger Guenther detailed drivers of Port Houston’s anticipated record-breaking cargo year, based on the indications of the latest reported volumes through November, Guenther cited the National Retail Federation as a source: “while total imports for the U.S. as a whole were flat, Houston’s imports grew by 19%, and while total U.S. exports were down this year by 5%, Houston’s exports grew by 18%.”
“However, to keep accommodating this cargo,” he added, “Port Houston has to maintain over $1.3 billion worth of assets each year and reinvest to add new infrastructure and cargo handling equipment.”
Guenther further emphasized Port Houston’s tremendous year of achievements in meeting and exceeding its goals and priorities for Infrastructure, Stewardship, Partnership, and People.
Among many other accomplishments, Guenther highlighted its Business Equity program and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, and the numerous volunteer community projects held over the year, including the successful Ports Community Grants Program, for which the 2023 application period opens on February 1.
Along with its important “Next-generation” enterprise resource planning, the Executive Director also highlighted Port Houston’s focus and investment in its people, as he introduced the first group participating in its Executive Leadership Development Program, and announced its first Supervisor Training program.
Guenther also stressed the continued commitment to environmental excellence and improvements, and the outside support to help make that possible. For example, Port Houston was awarded four Seaport and Rail Yard (SPRY) grants totaling $1,983,255 to replace 26-yard tractors and four forklifts with new emission-reducing equipment, and shortly after the commission meeting, Port Houston received confirmation of a fifth TCEQ SPRY grant for $950,443, to repower Rubber Tire Gantry cranes to hybrid. These projects align with Port Houston’s goal of reducing emissions, one of the strategic initiatives outlined in its Environmental, Social, Safety, and Governance Report.
In 2023 the Port Commission awarded more than $300 million in new capital projects – a new record supporting Port Houston’s continued investment in growth and infrastructure and plans for this year include $400 million in investments to continue to provide capacity ahead of demand.
Finally, the reappointments of Chairman Ric Campo and Commissioners Dean Corgey and Roy Mease were applauded during the meeting.
The Port Commission will meet on February 21, 2023, for its next monthly meeting.
Source: Port Houston