Port Houston News

CONTAINER PORTS: Boxed in or Busting Out?

Benchmarking the Nation’s top container ports in 2018 and looking ahead to what comes next.The nation’s major ports finished 2018 and began 2019 setting monthly and yearly container volume records, but agitated trade activity in the White House raised questions about what corrections would be permanent and which would not.President Donald Trump said on Febuary 24 he is delaying the scheduled March 1 increase in the tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports. The president said on Twitter he wants to give negotiators more time to reach a comprehensive trade deal with Beijing.

Port Houston Reports Record Container Volume

The international port of Texas, Port Houston, had a record-breaking 2018 as container volume through the port grew by double-digits.The port handled handled 2.7 million 20-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, a common industry measurement for containers, last year. That's up 10 percent from 2.46 million TEUs in 2017.Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther announced several records were broken in 2018, including that total tonnage at Port Houston facilities set a record of 35.7 million tons…

McCarthy to Build Container Yard at Port Houston

US-based construction company McCarthy Building Companies began construction in Oct. on a new container yard within Port Houston, located in Pasadena, Texas.According to a press release from the 150 years old company, the project with Port Houston, will be a 45-acre expansion on the existing Bayport Container Terminal in continued efforts to grow and modernize the port.The development will aid in the port’s ability to serve the continued growth of Houston’s container exports of finished petrochemical…

Konecranes Hybrid RTGs for Port Houston

Konecranes has won an order from long-term customer Port Houston, USA, for eight Konecranes RTGs equipped with hybrid power packs. These will be the first Konecranes hybrid RTGs to be delivered. The cranes will be delivered in Q1 2020 to the Barbours Cut Terminal. The order will be booked in Q4 2018. Port Houston, the international port of Texas, has been a Konecranes customer for over 15 years. The port currently operates 90 Konecranes diesel-electric RTGs.The new RTGs will be hybrid, for eco-efficient operation without compromising crane performance.

New Cranes Arrive at Port Houston’s Bayport Terminal

The arrival of three new 270 foot-tall Super Post-Panamax cranes to Port Houston’s Bayport Container Terminal on Tuesday highlights $100 million in terminal investments.The three neo-panamax ship-to-shore (STS) cranes were the first of two crane shipments Port Houston received this week. Five rubber-tired-gantry (RTG) cranes were delivered Wednesday.“The level of activity with the shipments of cranes this week is unprecedented,” said Executive Director Roger Guenther. “To see…

Port Houston Taps Moseley as CCO

Port Houston’s senior director of trade development John Moseley has been appointed to succeed retiring chief commercial officer Ricky Kunz.Moseley, the port’s senior director of trade development since 2010, will take the lead in developing and executing Port Houston’s commercial strategy. He is responsible for Port Houston’s real estate, trade development, economic development, marketing/external communications and media relations departments and the administration of Harris…

Port Houston Reports Strong Q1 2018

Year-to-date total tonnage for Port Houston through March is at 9.7 million, reflecting a 2 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Results showed that bulk material and steel were the primary drivers for the growth. “We continue to see positive activity for all sectors of business through Port Houston facilities,” Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther said Monday to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority during the April meeting. Cargo showed year-to-date increases across all major lines.

The Cruise Industry Business Model Evolves

Shifting populations, desirable destinations and yes – economics – drive the cruise industry of tomorrow. Unlike the cargo side of shipping, the cruise business has seen a steadily upward trajectory, with steady growth over decades. The 2018 annual “State of the Cruise Industry” report from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) was projecting a count of 27.2 million passengers for 2018, showing a steady rise from the 19.1 million, the figure for the beginning of the decade, and a substantial increase from 25.8 million in 2017.

Port Houston Box Volumes Continue to Rise

“Port Houston handled close to 10 million tons of total tonnage, reflecting an increase of eleven percent over 2016,” Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther announced during the April meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. During the first quarter of this year, Port Houston facilities handled 607,000 TEUs. Guenther said the majority of this increase is largely due to an increase in container volumes, which showed an increase of 18 percent.

Seafarers' Center Honors Houston Port Executive Director

The "Bronze Anchor Award" recognizes an individual, company or organization that has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to promoting the HISC mission and vision, and served as a leader and advocate for the welfare of seafarers. Guenther will be officially honored as a "Bronze Anchor Award" recipient at the HISC Maritime Gala to be held May 6, 2017. The gala will be held earlier in the year than normal and will coincide with the Seafarers' Center's upcoming move to a new location at the Port of Houston.

Horizon Lines Supports Jones Act

Horizon Lines, Inc. issued the following statement from interim President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen H. Horizon Lines is, and always has been, a very staunch supporter of the Jones Act and all of its requirements. The Jones Act stipulates that cargo shipped between two U.S. ports must be transported on vessels that are American-made, American-flagged, at least 75% American-owned and predominantly American crewed. We fully support these requirements and steadfastly believe they are vital to American economic, merchant marine, military, national and homeland security interests.