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Port Houston Reflects on 2024 Achievements

[ January 10, 2025   //   ]

                The Port of Houston Authority Commission highlighted 2024 results at its Dec. 10 meeting, including an update of the ship channel expansion, known as Project 11.

                Segment 1B of the project saw dredging recently completed and final reviews of the work underway by the port and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Houston Pilots will soon be able to safely navigate two-way traffic in the newly widened Galveston Bay channel to the Bayport Ship Channel.

                Dredging on Segment 1C continues and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025. With all port-led Project 11 procurement efforts complete, the USACE will design, procure and manage remaining efforts, with ongoing support from the port.

                Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins said there have been no draft restrictions impacting the channel in the prior 12 months, noteworthy, “considering the significant operational challenges faced this year, such as Hurricane Beryl and the brief ILA strike in October.”

                Jenkins also highlighted strong cargo volumes through the public terminals. Barbours Cut and Bayport were up 9 percent for the year in total 20-foot-equivalent units (TEU), with strong growth in import and export loads, Container volume was on pace to surpass 4 million TEU for the year. Steel tonnage is also up 37 percent versus October, yielding positive year-over-year growth.

                Port Houston also reached a significant milestone, awarding more than US$1 billion in contracts to support small, minority and women-owned businesses.

                The port was awarded six federal and state grants in 2024 totaling more than US$57 million, supporting initiatives to benefit port infrastructure, cybersecurity, the environment and surrounding communities. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration grant of US$25 million will enhance grain export infrastructure, improve air quality, and serve as a first step toward improving nearby stormwater drainage systems.

                Three new ship-to-shore cranes arrived at Bayport in late August, were successfully commissioned in November and are now operational, bringing the STS fleet of cranes to 18. Five rubber-tired gantry cranes added at Barbours Cut in November started endurance tests, bringing the total number of RTG cranes to 147. About 40 percent of the RTG crane fleet is hybrid electric.

The Port Houston Channel had no draft restrictions impacting the channel in the prior 12 months. PHOTO: Port Houston

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