Page 10 – Port of Brownsville

Port of Brownsville Honors High School Graduates with $1,000 Scholarships

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, May 28, 2021 – The Brownsville Navigation District (BND) proudly announces the recipients of the 2021 Port of Brownsville Scholarship program, aimed at helping deserving students pursue a higher education and career dreams.

Thirty-two local high school graduating seniors will receive $1,000 scholarships to help them continue their education. The scholarship winners – selected for their academic performance, community involvement, extracurricular activities, and work experience, as well as for essays penned as part of their applications – attend 16 public and private high schools in the Brownsville and Los Fresnos area. The selected students will receive their scholarships when they enroll in college or technical school.

“The commitment to our community is stronger than ever,” said BND Chairman Sergio Tito Lopez. “The port is proud t

In Peace and War: A Special Message for National Maritime Day

By BND Chairman Sergio Tito Lopez

As Memorial Day approaches and signifies our national remembrance of our military heroes, let us not forget Saturday, May 22nd

as another special and somber day at the Port of Brownsville. Sometimes overlooked, National Maritime Day is our annual remembrance to honor the sacrifices of thousands of U.S. merchant mariners who gave their lives serving our country at sea, as well as to recognize the service of merchant mariners today and throughout our history.

Established by a joint Resolution of Congress and by Proclamation of the President of the United States in 1933, National Maritime Day sets aside May 22nd each year – marking the departure of the first transoceanic voyage from the United States to Europe under steam powe

Texas Ports Association Honors Texas House Speaker Phelan as 2021 Port Person of the Year

AUSTIN, Texas – May 18, 2021 – The Texas Ports Association (TPA) honored Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan as its 2021 Port Person of the Year at the State Capitol in Austin during the ongoing 87^th Texas Legislative Session.

Each year, TPA honors individuals for their work and support of Texas ports. Phyllis Saathoff, TPA President and Port Freeport Executive Director/CEO, presented Speaker Phelan with the award along with directors representing the ports of Beaumont, Galveston, Orange, Palacios, Port Arthur, and the Sabine Neches Navigation District.

“Texas is the busiest maritime state in the nation, and Texas ports are a diverse economic engine generating $450 billion of annual total economic value – representing 25% of Texas gross domestic product – and impacting two million jobs in the Lone Star State,” Saathoff said. “Spea

SteelCoast’s Growing Momentum Delivers Gains

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — May 3, 2021 — Despite industry challenges faced in 2020, SteelCoast, LLC, a preeminent reclamation, remediation, and recycling facility at the Port of Brownsville recorded a successful year with new management at the helm focused on efficiencies, safety and excellence.

“The SteelCoast team recognized that 2020 was going to provide challenges in every aspect of our industry,” said Mark Hodgson, president of the company. “The decision was immediately made to turn adversity into opportunity and focus on the details of the business and the employees that support it.”

That strategy proved successful as more than 44,000 tons of steel and other metals were processed and shipped out to mills from the SteelCoast shipyard in 2020 and the company projects to increase production to more than 70,000 tons this year.

The company has already processed and s

Tidal Channel Into Bahia Grande Closed Until Fall For $5 Million Ecological Restoration

Widening Channel From 34 to 250 Feet Offers 13x Increase in Tidal Exchange, Restoring Wildlife Diversity for Future Generations

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – April 29, 2021 – The pilot channel connecting the Bahia Grande tidal basin and the Brownsville Ship Channel will undergo major enhancements to increase tidal exchange and restore the Bahia Grande as a major fish, wildlife and waterfowl nursery.

Access to the narrow waterway, also known as the Carl “Joe” Gayman channel, will be closed to the public beginning May 1, 2021 through early November when the project is expected to be completed.

The $5 million project is being implemented by the Texas General Land Office on behalf of the Deepwater Horizon Texas Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) which includes Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Na

Deputy Port Director Donna Eymard Retires

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — April 6, 20201 — The Port of Brownsville held a retirement celebration honoring Deputy Port Director Donna Eymard on April 1, 2021. Eymard announced her retirement, effective April 9, after 21 years of service with the Port of Brownsville.

“The port is an exciting place to work. I am so proud of how it has grown and diversified,” said Eymard. “I will miss the staff and tenants. They have been a pleasure to work with over the years. I am excited to see continued progress on the horizon for the Port of Brownsville.”

Eymard joined the port in 2000, after a successful career in the banking industry, working her way to become vice president of the International Bank of Commerce (IBC), the largest minority-owned bank in Texas and the third largest in the United States. During her time with IBC, she held positions in marketing, commercial, consumer and real

Success for Our Communities in the Face of a Challenging Year

By Sergio Tito Lopez

Chairman, Brownsville Navigation District

2020 proved to be an extremely difficult year for many people.

Last year we saw the rise of a global pandemic that devasted economies and tossed everyday lives into turmoil. Simple tasks like going to school, going out with friends, going to a doctor’s appointment, or just going to the store became increasingly difficult, if not sometimes impossible. On behalf of the entire Commission and staff of the Port of Brownsville, we continue to extend our hearts, prayers, and a helping hand to our community and those still reeling from the pandemic’s long reach.

Throughout 2020, however, the port never lost sight of our responsibility in serving as a global gateway for commerce and a critically important economic engine and job creator for our community. Port staff promptly made a range of changes to adapt to the pand

STATE OF THE PORT: Port of Brownsville Proves Resilient Amid Economic Challenges

Navigation District Registers Record-Setting FY 2020 for Operating Revenues; Cargo Movement Remains Steady

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – April 1, 2021 – The Port of Brownsville proved resilient amid a global pandemic and economic challenges with a record-setting 2020, moving 11.2 million short tons of diverse cargo with operating revenues of $41 million.

The unaudited operating revenues eclipsed FY 2019’s high watermark of $25.4 million. The port also saw record levels of railcar movements at 51,115, marking a 24 percent increase from the 41,207 railcar movements recorded in 2019.

“The port never lost sight of its responsibility in serving as a global gateway for commerce and a critically important economic engine and job creator for our community,” said Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Sergio Tito Lopez. “Our tenants, customers and port staff performed with

Port of Brownsville Reschedules 85th Anniversary Celebration

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – March 23, 2021 – The Port of Brownsville is rescheduling its 85^th anniversary celebration – traditionally held in May – to Saturday, Oct. 23rd, given the current circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

The celebration marks the port’s opening in 1936 and its continued growth and economic importance throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The Port of Brownsville has grown today into a major center for industrial development with 273 companies doing business in the region supporting more than 8,500 jobs locally and more than 51,000 statewide.

The port continues to expand as the largest U.S. shipping point for steel into Mexico, the only shipbuilding center on the Texas coast, a growing hub for agricultural exports, and the major transit point for wind energy components being installed throughout the region.

If social ci

Port of Brownsville Revenue Bonds Maintain A2 Moody’s Rating

Port’s “competitive position for cross border trade” and “strong financial position” Key Factors in Retaining High Rating

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – March 19, 2021 – Moody’s Investor Services assigned a stable outlook to the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) and reaffirmed a high “A2” credit rating on its revenue bonds.

The stable outlook reflects Moody’s view that “the port will maintain ample liquidity supported by strong operating cash flow margins.”

Moody’s noted the Port of Brownsville’s “competitive position for cross border trade as well as the upside potential of near-term projects at the port and major private sector investments” in maintaining the $32 million bonds’ high A2 score, which it defines as among average for “upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.”

Moody’s ra

Port of Brownsville Update on KURV’s Radio Show

Port of Brownsville Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano was a guest on KURV’s radio show “The Valley’s Morning News” with Sergio Sanchez and Tim Sullivan on March. 4.

Campirano discussed the port’s economic impact to the state, European vessels to be recycled in Brownsville, and other important topics.

Listen here https://soundcloud.com/kurv-710/port-of-brownsville-director-ed-campirano-port-of-brownsville-update.

International Shipbreaking Gains EU Ship Recycling Accreditation

International Shipbreaking, part of the world-leading recycler EMR Metal Recycling, has gained EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SSR) accreditation for its site at the Port of Brownsville after investing $30 million in compliant infrastructure.

The Brownsville site is the first U.S. shipbreaking site to achieve this accreditation. It can now help EU-based ship owners – as well as ships flying the flags of EU member states – to responsibly recycle their ships at end of life.

The regulations set standards for environmental and health and safety compliance which go above and beyond stringent US regulatory requirements. The International Shipbreaking facility meets EU requirements that ships are completely recycled on hard surfaces to avoid pollutants such as chemicals from paints contaminating the soil and water.

“We have just received and safely moored our first EU ship recyc

Progress Report: South Port Connector Road

BROWNSVILLE, TX (March 1, 2021) — The South Port Connector Road project, which began August 2020, is currently 30 percent complete.

The 1.9-mile long port connector road connects Ostos Road inside the port with State Highway 4, providing another entry and exit to and from the port and convenient access to commercial lanes at Veterans International Bridge. It also supports operations related to the space industry in South Texas.

The project includes the construction of two bridges over wetlands in the area to minimize environmental impacts on the local ecosystem.

The $25.6 million project is a partnership 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 Dep

TEXAS PORTS ASSOCIATION HONORS USACE GALVESTON DISTRICT COMMANDER COL. VAIL AS 2021 PORT PERSON OF THE YEAR

GALVESTON, TX (March 1, 2021) – The Texas Ports Association (TPA) honored Col. Timothy R. Vail, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District Commander, as its 2021 Port Person of the Year at the USACE, Galveston District (SWG) Virtual Winter 2021 Stakeholder Partnering Forum.

Each year, TPA honors individuals for their work and support of Texas Ports. TPA President, Phyllis Saathoff, presented Col. Vail with the award in a surprise ceremony.

“The Galveston District is the most important district to our nation because of the economic vitality and activity generated by Texas Ports,” Saathoff said. “Under Col. Vail’s leadership, Texas Ports have seen enhanced collaboration which has resulted in federal funding for much-needed ship channel improvement projects, consistent maintenance of our nation’s waterways, and resiliency for our channels

BRG Steams Ahead Breaking Record in 2020

The Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway (BRG) ended 2020 riding an all-time high with 51,115 loaded railcars handled at the Port of Brownsville throughout the year.

This marks a 24 percent increase from the 41,207 railcar movements recorded in 2019, a considerable upward trend highlighted by growing movements of steel, wind energy components, grain and petroleum-based products.

Norma Torres, BRG president & COO, said the company is likely to continue handling a high volume of loaded railcars in 2021.

“We’ve hired additional staff in the transportation department and added three new management positions since October 2020,” said Torres. “We expect this year to exceed the numbers in the past and will hire more staff in the future.”

Formed in 1984 by the Brownsville Navigation District, the BRG provides consistent, safe and reliable service to Port o