Port of Houston boosts container, steel volumes in November

The Texas Gulf Coast port in November saw overall cargo volumes rise 9 percent compared with the same month a year ago, according to the Port of Houston Authority.    Port Houston terminals handled nearly 35 million tons of cargo through November, an increase of 9 percent compared to November 2016, according to the Port of Houston Authority.
   Executive Director Roger Guenther cited containers and steel imports as the main drivers for the cargo increase.
   “Steel volumes continue to trend upward, totaling 3.4 million tons, reflecting a 57 percent increase compared to the same period last year,” he said. Container activity grew 14 percent year over year, with the port authority expecting to surpass the 2.4 million-TEU mark by the end of the year.
   The port authority also approved a reissued and amended version of the Port Authority Tariffs Nos. 8, 14 and 15, covering Turning Basin Terminal, Barbours Cut Terminal and Bayport Container Terminal. All changes will be effective Jan. 1, 2018, and are available online, the port said.
   Finally, the commission approved amending Port Houston’s agreement with Konecranes Finland to purchase an additional diesel electronic yard crane, thus bringing the total number of yard cranes to ten at Bayport Container Terminal. The original order for ship-to-shore cranes to Bayport Container Terminal are scheduled for delivery in early 2018.