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BROWNSVILLE, Texas, May 3, 2024 – After more than a decade of dedicated service, Ralph Cowen, Commissioner, Place 1 of the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) concluded his final term. Cowen did not seek reelection in the Brownsville Navigation District General Election taking place May 4, 2024.

At a regular board meeting held May 1, the BND Board of Commissioners presented Cowen with a resolution honoring his dedicated service to the navigation district and the Port of Brownsville.

“We are grateful for Commissioner Cowen’s leadership and dedication to the Port of Brownsville,” said Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra. “We extend our heartfelt appreciation to him for his invaluable service and wish him continued success in all future endeavors.”

A U.S. Army Veteran, Cowen was first elected to the BND Board in May 2008, and served as Chairman fro

Westa Inc. to Invest $20 Million in State-of-the-Art Flour Mill

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Friday, April 19, 2024 — The Port of Brownsville is proud to announce a ceremonial groundbreaking for its first tenant at the Port of Brownsville Business Park, Westa Inc. The ceremony, held Thursday, April 18, marks a significant milestone in the development of the port’s 118-acre business park.

Westa Inc., a major player in the agricultural industry, will invest $20 million to establish a state-of-the-art wheat flour mill and wheat storage silos at the Port of Brownsville. The company will develop more than 10 acres at the business park, located right at the turning basin of the Brownsville Ship Channel. Once operational, the facility will employ 120 people.

“We are excited to welcome Westa Inc. to the Port of Brownsville Business Park and look

The Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway (BRG) commemorated 40 years of service to the Port of Brownsville in February. First formed in 1984 by the Brownsville Navigation District, the BRG provides consistent, safe and reliable service to Port of Brownsville users.

“On this landmark 40th anniversary of the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway, we pause to honor our rich history of growth, resilience, and partnership,” said BRG President Shariff Gonnella. “This anniversary serves as a pivotal moment to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our team, the trust of our partners, and the support of our community.”

From its modest beginnings with 17 employees, four locomotives, and 33 miles of track, BRG has experienced remarkable growth and success over the past four decades. In 2023, the BRG reported a record of more than 80,000 carloads. Top commoditi

At a regular Board Meeting held Feb. 21, the Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners approved a five-year memorandum of understanding between Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice Institute for Homeland Security for education and training services focused on Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP).

CIP includes proactive activities for protecting critical infrastructures such as the people, physical entities, and cyber systems that are necessary for national security, economic stability, and public safety.

As the leading maritime port for the Rio Grande Valley, the Port of Brownsville is a critical infrastructure asset vital in the facilitation of global trade. Activity at the port is responsible for adding more than $2 billion to the regional economy, $3 billion to the Texas economy, and the creation of more than 51,000 jobs statewide.

The tra

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Thursday, February 8, 2024 – Only months after the Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners (BND) held a groundbreaking for the Port of Brownsville’s business park in June, prospective businesses are preparing to negotiate lease agreements with the port.

At a regular board meeting held Feb. 7, the BND Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to approve leasing rates for the business park. The competitive rates are aimed at attracting sustainable, high-quality companies to the port, ensuring its long-term success.

Hard at work, port staff from the Engineering and Facilities Maintenance departments have completed several construction milestones in-house for the 118-acre business park, including leveling the site and installing water/sewage pipes and fire hydrants.

The Port of Brownsville’s 40,000 acres make it a viable bu

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — January 9, 2024 – Closing out the year on significant milestones, the Port of Brownsville begins 2024 with Port Chief of Police William Dietrich succeeding former Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano as Interim Port Director.

The Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners began a national search for a new port director and CEO in August and named Dietrich as interim in December while the search continues.

“Building upon record achievements, the Port of Brownsville is on the path for tremendous growth,” said Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra.  “As the search for a port director continues, we are confident Mr. Dietrich will leverage his experience to steer the port and our region forward in the interim,” said Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra.

A U.S. Army veteran, Dietrich served the Brow

As the only deepwater seaport located directly on the U.S.-Mexico border, the Port of Brownsville is strategically positioned to efficiently serve and connect industries across North America and beyond.

The port is a prominent shipper of steel, refined petroleum products, grain, aggregates, among other products supporting diverse industries located in 12 Mexican states.

The movement of cargo across the border in both directions is made easy thanks to the port’s direct connectivity to USMCA interstate corridors, offering a fast route to non-congested international bridge crossings. The Port of Brownsville claims conceptual ownership of Texas’ first overweight corridor. Trucks crossing the border in either direction utilizing the specially designated route to or from the port, can load to the legal weight limits of Mexico – 125,000 pounds (45,000 pounds heavier than domestic li

The Port of Brownsville has been a driving force for the Rio Grande Valley’s economy with impacts reaching far across the Lone Star State.  In the last decade, the port has made significant strides, bolstering its position as a crucial center for commerce and a catalyst for regional growth. With major infrastructure improvements, increased capabilities, and a strong commitment to sustainability, the Port of Brownsville is leading the way in the maritime industry and a symbol of progress.

Thanks to the port’s keen logistical network, the movement of waterborne cargo at the port has continued to rise. According to the. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ the port rocketed to 55th position out of 150 maritime ports nationwide for the movement of waterborne cargo in 2021, ahead of its 66th place in 2020.

The upward trend continues as more than 15.2 million tons of diverse cargo moved

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Tuesday, September 5, 2023 – Two containerships crossing paths at the Port of Brownsville’s 17-mile-long ship channel in June illustrated the modern-day ship life cycle. As Pasha Hawaii’s newly completed MV Janet Marie containership docked at Seatrium AmFELS’ shipyard, Pasha’s retired SV Horizon Pacific containership was drawn by Signet Maritime’s tugboats to berth at SA Recycling/SteelCoast for recycling.

Known as the premier ship recycling port of the United States, securing 85% of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), and U.S. Navy contracts, the Port of Brownsville is also the primary shipbuilding port of Texas. In 2022, one of the three major ship recycling companies at the port, SteelCoast merged with SA Recycling to become the company’s only ship recycling facility in the United States,