Port Houston thrives in 2017

The Texas port handled 38.3 million tons of cargo throughout the year, including 2.46 million TEUs, both of which were new records for the port.    Port Houston in 2017 recorded the highest total tonnage ever at 38.3 million tons, surpassing the previous record of 37.8 million tons set in 2014, the port authority said.
   The Texas port also handled a record 2.46 million TEUs in 2017, a 13 percent increase from the prior record set in 2016 of 2.18 million TEUs.
   “We are again on our way to another tremendous year of opportunity and growth at Port Houston,” said Port Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria.
   “In his report to the commission, Executive Director Roger Guenther further detailed achievements in 2017, including a 99 percent uptime in reliability for 22 ship-to-shore cranes and extending gate hours for truckers, as well as success for its Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) #84 program,” the port said.
   Guenther said that during the year, the port brought to substantial completion more than $200 million worth of construction contracts. “Among those projects were the completion of both Container Yard 6 North and South including gantry cranes at Bayport Container terminals,” the port said. “At Barbours Cut terminal, rehab work at Wharf 2 was completed and improvements were made at its east end, while three new super post-Panamax STS cranes were received.”