“We continue to receive many inquiries about moving freight from East Asia via the Panama Canal and through our port,” Guenther reported tothe Port Commission during the regular monthly meeting. Emphasizing the Port Authority’s readiness to capture increased container cargo demand through the region, Guenther cited four new wharf cranes destined for the Barbours Cut Container Terminal, which departed this week from Korea and are expected to arrive at the terminal in early May. At the meeting, the Port Commission also approved the purchase of nine new rubber tyred gantry cranes for the Bayport terminal.
Guenther reported that dredging is progressing well at the Bayport and Barbours Cut channels. With much of the disposal site and preparatory work complete, plans call for adding two dredges to the project so that in the coming months, one dredge will work at Barbours Cut and two dredges will operate at Bayport.
“Dredging continues to be closely coordinated with the (Houston) Pilots, the maritime industry, and the communities around our terminals,” he said. “When the new Barbours Cut cranes are commissioned, our deepened channel will be complete and ready – and the Bayport channel will also be completed this year, well in advance of the completion of the new Panama Canal locks.”
Faith Beaty, president, and Todd Welda, marketing director, of DNV-GL Business Assurance USA, Inc. announced the results of PHA’s recertification to ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) standards. The ISO 14001 certification standard is one of the most stringent and challenging in the environmental industry. The speakers recognized the Port Authority and its Environmental Affairs Department for their fifth successful EMS certification,after an evaluation process that occurs every three years. The Port
Authority is entering its 13th year of using the EMS tool to enhance environmental compliance, resources protection and conservation. Beaty said the results of the audit revealed no major or minor nonconformances, which, she stated, should give the community, regulators, and stakeholders great confidence in the Port Authority’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
Chairman Longoria recognized the Port of Houston Partners in Maritime Education Program. First established in Houston Independent School District’s Jack Yates and Stephen F. Austin high schools in 2009, and soon after expanded to include Galena Park, La Porte, and Pasadena ISDs, the program continues to flourish. Approximately 1,100 students are currently taking maritime classes. The program was recently recognized as a “Bright Idea” by the Innovations in American Government Awards as “part of an exemplary group
of programs that represent the cutting edge in government policies, initiatives and best practices.”
In his financial report to the Port Commission, Guenther said tonnage continues to be strong. In January, import steel was up by 35 percent over the same month in 2014, but Guenther noted high steel volumes are expected to taper off. Container cargo volume has continued to strengthen as well, with a constant upward trend in full import boxes. PHA attained a healthy overall 2.9 million tons for the first month of the year.
All of this activity in January returned operating revenue of $24 million, up 18 percent from the prior year. The Port Authority generated $7 million in net operating income and $12 million in cash flow, critical elements to funding its aggressive capital investment plan for the next fiveyears.