Guenther joined the Port of Houston Authority as Manager of Maintenance at Barbours Cut Terminal in 1988. Since then, he has served in increasingly important positions, including overseeing master planning of the Bayport Container Terminal and redevelopment of the existing Barbours Cut Terminal. Guenther was named Deputy Executive Director, Operations in November 2012.

Chairman Janiece Longoria said, “Given his background and experience, the growth in our business under his operational leadership, and his long and positive service to the Port of Houston Authority, we are confident that Mr Guenther is the right choice as successor to lead the institution as we move forward.”

Waterworth advised the Port Commission that he had accepted the role for two years to help the Port Authority through recent transitions and to use his US Army Corps of Engineers background to help obtain permits to deepen and widen the Port Authority’s container terminal channels. Having completed those matters, he said he wanted to pursue other opportunities, including personal travel.

Chairman Longoria congratulated Waterworth on his service: “My fellow Port Commissioners and I are grateful to the Colonel for his steady leadership and his service to the Port Authority during his tenure. He worked effectively on many endeavours, including operational matters and the federal permit to deepen and widen the Bayport and Barbours Cut Channels. We are proud of what has been accomplished during the past two years, and the Port Commission wishes Len the very best in his future endeavors.”

Guenther said, “I am truly honoured, humbled and excited to have been selected by the Port Commission to lead this organization. And, I am extremely proud of the confidence and trust that they have placed in all of us to maintain the continuity as we move forward into another BIG year at the port.” Guenther further added that it was “business as usual,” and that he was confident in employees’ abilities to make 2014 another great year for the Port Authority.

Elected to President – Sean Clark, Port of Kalama: Vice President – Jennifer Brown, Port of Longview: Treasurer – Tom Tanaka, Port of Seattle. Patti Fulghum continues as Executive Officer.

The Northwest Marine Terminal Association is a voluntary association of 15 deepwater ports in Oregon and Washington. The Northwest Marine Terminal Association has operated continuously since 1939, under an Agreement approved by the Federal Maritime Commission.

The Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners are Commerzbank, Danske Bank, Nordea Bank, Pohjola Bank and SEB. Danske Bank acted as the Co-ordinating Mandated Lead Arranger and Facility Agent.

The $73 million, 43-acre near-dock rail facility in the Port’s Southport containerized cargo area will be used to transfer domestic and international shipping containers between ship and rail, and will replace FEC’s existing 12-acre intermodal yard which is currently located several miles from Port Everglades on Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.

In addition to installing the rail tracks and crane pads, buildings are under construction and the road to the facility is ready to be paved.

The Port Everglades ICTF will allow FEC to build 9,000-foot unit trains within the facility without blocking any city streets and will allow cargo to move through Port Everglades to/from Atlanta and Charlotte in two days, and Nashville and Memphis in three days. FEC’s connections to CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads allow for rail service to 70 percent of the U.S. population within four days.

Port Everglades contributed the land for the ICTF valued at $20 million. Construction costs are estimated to total $53 million and are being funded with an $18 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Strategic Intermodal System program, a $30 million FDOT State Infrastructure Bank loan to FEC, and $5 million from FEC.