Port Houston container volumes jump 11% in 2017

Despite impacts from Hurricane Harvey in August, Port Houston’s year-to-date container and cargo volumes remained strong as the U.S. Gulf Coast port moves forward with its $700 million modernization plan.    Port Houston posted an 11 percent increase in container volumes year-to-date compared to the same period last year, with containers surpassing the 1.8 million TEU mark by September, according to recent data from the U.S. Gulf Coast port.
   September container activity at Port Houston’s Barbours Cut and Bayport facilities increased 22 percent and the port also recorded a cargo increase of 9 percent for a total of 28.8 million tons of cargo handled year-to-date at all port facilities, the port announced on Monday.
   “We remain confident of continued growth in the container sector, both on the import and export side, during the remainder of this year and into 2018,” said Executive Director Roger Guenther.
   The port was significantly impacted by Hurricane Harvey at the end of August, but terminal operations recovered quickly, said Guenther.
   “We anticipated that we would receive most of the cargo that was initially diverted following the storm…and we did,” he stated. For example, general cargo facilities handled nearly 400 thousand tons of steel, “which is a large volume as we caught up for the week or more of time lost due to the storm,” Guenther said. “Port Houston’s results remain strong overall for the year.”
    The Port Houston Commission said the port and the greater Houston area are grateful for the assistance, relief and aid received from South Carolina Ports employees, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Port Employee Relief Fund, Georgia Ports Authority employees and the greater Savannah community, as well as from Port Houston employees.
   Port Houston also relayed that the port commission has authorized an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the construction and operation of a rail spur across Texas State Highway 146 and Red Bluff Road, to facilitate in a phased approach future intermodal service to the Bayport Container Terminal. An Industry Track Agreement was also approved with Union Pacific Railroad for track and switch modifications at the Bayport Terminal. Construction of the spur and crossing and the track agreement support the development of Phase One of the Bayport Master Rail Plan, as well as rail service to the 56-acres being developed at Bayport South, the port commission noted.
   Additionally, three three super post-panamax wharf cranes were delivered to the port on Monday, bringing the total number of same-size cranes to seven. These new cranes are part of a $700 million modernization program underway at the Barbours Cut terminal to further its increase cargo handling efficiency and capacity, the port said.