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2022 State of the Port Address: Continued Progress at the Port of Brownsville Provides Positive Outlook for the RGV Economy

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – March 24, 2022 —The Port of Brownsville remains a stronghold for the Rio Grande Valley’s economy providing record-setting tonnage and robust operating revenues for FY 2021.

Brownsville Navigation District Board Chairman Sergio Tito Lopez highlighted these achievements at the 2022 State of the Port Address held today at the Rancho Viejo Convention Center in Rancho Viejo, TX.

The unaudited operating revenues for FY 2021 surpassed the $30 million mark for the second consecutive year at $34 million, while cargo tonnage amounted to 13.8 million tons, breaking a previous record of 11.6 million in 2020.

“The Port of Brownsville remains strong and focused on its mission. We have not only remained open for business, but we have also grown,” said Lopez. “As vessels continue to bring more cargo, more jobs are created and sustained. We continue to invest in

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Paving the Path for Commerce: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Opens South Port Connector Road

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – March 4, 2022 — The Port of Brownsville held a ribbon cutting ceremony today for the Rio Grande Valley’s latest commerce route, the 1.9 mile-long South Port Connector Road. The new road will officially open for business Monday, March 7, at 6 a.m.

The road project is a collaborative effort between the Brownsville Navigation District (BND), Cameron County, the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA), the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (RGVMPO), and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to improve port access and ease urban traffic in the Brownsville area.

BND Board Chairman Sergio Tito Lopez commemorated the event by driving a truck through a ceremonial ribbon, officially opening the road for domestic and international trade.

“The Port of Brownsville is committed to investing in infras

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Diversified Success

Editor’s Note: This article is featured in the latest edition of the Port of Brownsville Directory. Click HERE to view directory or to request a copy.

Steel is a large and significant mainstay in Brownsville, where the port is the major gateway for steel into Mexico, moving more than three million short tons of steel commodities per year.

The Port of Brownsville

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Port of Brownsville Update on KURV’s Radio Show

On Tuesday, January 25, Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano was a featured guest on KURV’s radio show “The Valley’s Morning News” with Sergio Sanchez and Tim Sullivan. Campirano highlighted several multi-billion dollar projects currently in the works and provided a 2022 forecast for the port.

Listen Here

 

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2021 Port of Brownsville Year in Review

 

While the aftereffects of 2020 continue to reverberate across industries worldwide, the Port of Brownsville overcame significant challenges to develop sustainable infrastructure and job creation for local families and businesses. As we look back at the quarterly highlights of 2021, we celebrate the successes and look forward to the promise of 2022.

 

First Quarter

  • In its annual State of the Port, the port reported record-breaking statistics with the movement of  11.6 million short tons of diverse cargo with operating revenues of $37 million for FY 2020.
  • International Shipbreaking, part of the world-leading recycler EMR Metal Recycling, gained EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SSR) accreditation – the first in the United States – for its site at the Port of Brownsville after investing $30 million in compliant infrastructur
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Port of Brownsville Recognizes Schaefer Stevedoring with 2021 Chairman’s Award

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — December 14, 2021 — The Port of Brownsville presented Schaefer Stevedoring with its 2021 Chairman’s Award in honor of the company’s achievements throughout its 30 years of operation.
Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Sergio Tito Lopez presented the award to Ken Schaefer, president and owner of Schaefer Stevedoring, on Dec. 14 during the annual Customer Appreciation Luncheon held at the Rancho Viejo Convention Center in Rancho Viejo.

 

Headquartered at the port, Schaefer Stevedoring is an international stevedoring company providing shipping services within the maritime and port logistics industries of the United States and Mexico. The family-owned company currently employs 85 staff members at its Brownsville headquarters.

 

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TXDoT Gives Port Top Marks in Risk Assessment

The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDoT) in October issued the Port of Brownsville a grade A score for its Local Government Risk Assessment based on the performance of the South Port Connector Road construction project.
A risk score of A signifies that the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) presents a low-level risk to TXDoT based on the current project performance. The Local Government Risk Assessment and Qualifications Review process includes criteria such as a local government’s credibility, audit history, financial records, compliance, communications, expertise, stability, and teamwork. Interdepartmental collaboration between port departments was key in achieving the score.
Construction of t

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85th Anniversary Community Celebration

The Port of Brownsville has proudly served the Rio Grande Valley region for nearly a century.

On Saturday, Oct. 23, the port invites the community to its 85th Anniversary Community Celebration. This free community event commemorates the port’s opening in 1936 and its continued growth and economic importance throughout the Rio Grande Valley. By seeing the port firsthand, you’ll know why it is known as the Port that works.

The 85th Anniversary Community Celebration will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Port of Brownsville. This event will be a fun-filled day for children and adults of all ages to enjoy:

 

  • Live music
  • Animal exhibits
  • Free food
  • Port boat tours*
  • Port bus tours*
  • Children’s play area
  • Prizes
  • Much More

 

*For

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Port Pilots Set the Course for Safety

 

On any given day, vessels loaded with cargo appear to effortlessly glide over the deep Gulf Coast waters on their way to the only deepwater seaport on the U.S.- Mexico border led by one of the four Brazos Santiago Pilots Association (BSPA) harbor pilots. Captains Gene R. Tuttle, Chris Urbanovsky, Jonathan P. Willett and Grant S. Wilson are tasked with safeguarding the waterways of the Brownsville Navigation District and Port Isabel-San Benito Navigation District while guiding vessels in and out of the 17-mile long Brownsville Ship Channel with unmatched knowledge and expertise.

Since its grand opening in 1936, vessels from around the world have called upon the Port of Brownsville to deliver essential goods supporting a wide range of industries throughout North America. Eighty five years later the port continues to be the leading economic driver of the Rio Grande Valley. In 2

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Economic Development Key to Port’s Success

New Committee to Explore Economic Development Opportunities

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – October 1, 2021 – Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Sergio Tito Lopez named Secretary Esteban Guerra as chairman of a newly created committee focused on enhancing economic development opportunities at the Port of Brownsville. The committee will also include Commissioner John Reed as vice chair.

“As highlighted by U.S. Senator John Cornyn’s recent visit to our port, we are the economic engine of the Rio Grande Valley,” Chairman Lopez stated. “I have created this committee to identify those opportunities so that we as a commission may act on them.”

Senator Cornyn visited the Port of Brownsville on Sept. 16 to participate in an economic development roundtable discussion with Rio Grande Valley public officials and members of the business community. The event was organized

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Advanced Manufacturing Training Coming to the Rio Grande Valley

On Sept. 23, the Texas A&M University System and two of its state engineering agencies – the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) –announced a new initiative to invigorate an important Rio Grande Valley industry sector, advanced manufacturing, with workforce development programs that will prepare people for high-need jobs.

The Texas A&M RGV Advanced Manufacturing/Training Innovation Now (TRAIN) program gathers community input, creates collaborations and develops training courses that meet the needs of current and future employers at the Port of Brownsville. In two years, TRAIN will award 10,000 certificates through on line and on-site classes.

TEES and TEEX, two state agencies renowned for their workforce training and professional development, will offer these courses in English and Spanish. There i

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Honoring our Highway Heroes: Celebrating National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

By Sergio Tito Lopez, Chairman of the Brownsville Navigation District

In honor of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (Sept. 12-18), the Port of Brownsville, along with the entire trucking industry in the United States, is thanking the millions of professional truck drivers who work every day to deliver America’s freight safely and securely to provide for our communities.

Nearly every part of our lives is impacted by the work of these highway heroes. The trucking industry is the backbone of our economy, and our professional drivers are the industry’s heart. Visit any grocery store, business, or medical facility throughout the Rio Grande Valley, or any other part of the country, and that becomes immediately obvious. Without them, our workplace, home, dinner table, and everything else in our life would look very different.

America’s professional truck drivers ar

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Port of Brownsville Announces New Deputy Port Directors

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — September 3, 2021 – The Port of Brownsville announces the appointment of two new deputy port directors effective August 9, 2021.

Melinda Rodriguez is the deputy port director of administration and will oversee the port’s Human Resources, Real Estate Services, Finance, Communications and Administrative Services departments.

Rodriguez has worked in a variety of leadership positions with organizations such as NextDecade, Texas Southmost College, Catholic Charities of Central Texas, United Way of Hidalgo County, March of Dimes, Cystic Fibrosis-Central Texas, and United Blood Services. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Texas, Pan American (now UTRGV), a Master of Arts in Human Services from St. Edward’s University, and she is currently working on a doctorate degree. Her career spans 33 years in administratio

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