Page 15 – Port of Brownsville

Special Feature: Mexico Makes Sense

The Port of Brownsville’s proximity to Mexico, Latin America’s second largest economy, uniquely positions the port as the nation’s key transshipment gateway delivering goods and commodities to nearby multinational manufacturing centers on both sides of the border.

Ranking among the top U.S. steel ports, the Port of Brownsville moves more steel into Mexico than any other domestic competitor. In 2018, the port moved 3.2 million short tons of steel across the southern border.

Nearby Monterrey is a major industrial center in northern Mexico with a metropolitan population of nearly 5 million and home to dozens of commonly recognized international corporations. Monterrey is located 200 miles due west from the Port of Brownsville, where steel makers have come to rely upon the logistical efficiencies provided by the port. Convenient border crossings are located just seven miles fro

Signet Maritime: Twenty One Years Prioritizing Safety

In June Signet Maritime celebrated 21 years of tugboat operations at the Port of Brownsville

The company’s full-service navigation center at the Brownsville ship channel provides ship, barge and rig movements as well as harbor tugboat operations since 1998. The Brownsville fleet includes three tugboats, the Signet Defender, Signet Ranger and the Signet Magic. These high-powered tugs assist ships and barges, often more than ten times their size, navigate through the 17-mile long ship channel.

The port’s intermodal expansion and continued growth have led to a higher demand for Signet’s services.

“As the years go by, we are starting to have bigger ships and bigger barges, oil rigs and new demand for more power,” said Ida Treviño, Signet Maritime Operations Manager. Treviño has worked with the company since its inception at the Port of Brownsville.

“Tugboat captains

Keppel AmFELS is Building Ships

Keppel AmFELS is building ships at the Port of Brownsville, introducing a new industry to the state of Texas.

To facilitate the construction of deep-draft vessels at Keppel’s shipyard, the port partnered with the company to build a Public Vessel Assembly and Erection Pad. The project was completed July 31.

The assembly pad, measuring 292 ft. wide and 1,102 ft. long, is used to assemble Jones Act vessels to transport cargo along the U.S. coast from one domestic port to another. The Jones Act is a federal law regulating maritime commerce in the U.S. The law requires goods shipped between U.S. ports to be transported on ships that are built, owned and operated only by U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration awarded the port a $1.8 million grant for the construction of the pad. The total cost of the project was $5.3

Grain Overseas: Bulk Cargo Dock Rehabilitation Nears Completion

The Port of Brownsville will resume exporting grains by vessel with the rehabilitation of the bulk cargo dock scheduled for completion in August.

The renovation project is part of an agreement the port entered with West Plains LLC in 2016 to restore and operate the grain elevator, with capacity to store three million bushels of grain. Since restoration efforts began, West Plains has invested multiple millions of dollars in its facility, while the port has pitched another $5.5 million to the project.

The bulk cargo dock will work in tandem with the renovated grain elevator to give South Texas and Mexican grain producers access to international markets. Once complete, the modern facilities will be equipped with efficient and high-speed handling of grain through all modes of transportation – truck, rail and vessel loading and unloadin

Port of Brownsville Update on KURV’s Radio Show

Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano was recently a guest on KURV’s radio show “The Valley’s Morning News”.

Campirano spoke about the record-breaking year the port experienced in 2018, as well at the steel industry and other important projects that are helping transform the economic landscape of the Rio Grande Valley.

Listen to the interview HERE

Independent Auditor Confirms Record Year and Clean Audit for the Brownsville Navigation District

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (June 27, 2019) — The Brownsville Navigation District’s (BND) annual external audit confirmed June 26, 2019, verified record operating revenues and tonnage for fiscal year 2018.

The audit reviewed the district’s financial statements and figures, which reflected an increase in total operating revenue and tonnage for the Port of Brownsville for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. The total operating revenue was $24,209,767. This marks a 4 percent increase from the 2017 fiscal year. Total tonnage for the 2018 fiscal year also met and surpassed records, registering 11.3 million short tons, an increase of 6.6 percent from fiscal year 2017.

“The Port of Brownsville is a consistent model of excellence. We are making important financial decisions that have positive returns. This audit reflects our commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility,

Port of Brownsville Achieves Significant Milestone in Channel Deepening Project

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (June 18, 2019) – The Port of Brownsville is closer to deepening the Brownsville Ship Channel after receiving a key permit June 6 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to advance the Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project (BIH) to its construction phase.

The USACE permit is the latest milestone in the port’s effort to deepen the ship channel from 42 feet to 52 feet, resulting in significant navigational safety improvements for commercial shipping in South Texas.

“Today we find ourselves on the verge of a new economic era for the Rio Grande Valley and the channel deepening is essential for our continued progress and success,” said John Reed, Brownsville Navigation District Chairman. “These crucial infrastructure projects solidify our presence in the global market and create better economic opportunities for our local workforce.”

Rio Grande Valley Prepares for Job Influx

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Companies investing in the Rio Grande Valley anticipate high demand for workers that may exceed 9,000 jobs, according to seven large employers attending a Workforce Summit held May 23 at the Port of Brownsville.

Initial demand will be driven by three proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants. The companies are set to receive their Federal Energy Regulatory Commission permits and commence construction within the next three years. During the construction phase these companies estimate a need for more than 6,000 workers alone.

Two current companies at the Port of Brownsville along with two other potential tenants listed the need for an additional 3,000 workers in several full-time and temporary positions.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our workforce. The jobs are going to be plentiful, they’re going to pay well, but we need to educate and train our

Texan Cement Invests in Success

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Texan Cement plans to expand its storage capability of 14,000 short tons of cement to 40,000 to fit growing volume demand in the Rio Grande Valley.

The expansion is phase two of a plan to transform Texan Cement’s entire operation from a big bag operation- transportation of cement in bags that resemble grocery store bags- to a bulk and cement terminal. The capital investment for the project is $10 million of which the company has spent $1.5 million.

“The Rio Grande Valley has grown and the demand for cement, specifically our cement and our price point that we have, is growing so much that we’re constantly having to extend our hours so that we can meet demand,” said J. C. Echeverria, CFO and Operations Officer of American Cement Advisors, Texan Cement’s parent company.

The growing diversity of industries doing business in the Rio Grande Valley and

BND Commemorates Peace Officers

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The Brownsville Navigation District honored the dedicated work and sacrifice of Port PD officers and all other peace officers around the nation during National Peace Officers Week held May 13-17.

To commemorate the honorable work and sacrifice of peace officers everywhere, the BND Board of Commissioners passed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day and the week in which the date falls as National Peace Officers Week in the Port of Brownsville.

The port’s Police Department also hosted a peace officer memorial ceremony May 16. The officers received badges to commemorate the event and gear bags with the traditional blue line that denotes service.

“Police like any other profession each have an understanding amongst each other for what they do and what they go through on a daily basis, the thin blue line demonstrates support for

Bluewing Moves Forward with Expansion Project

Bluewing Midstream LLC is expanding its liquid storage capacity at the Port of Brownsville to support growing customer demand.

The liquid bulk terminal and logistics operator began construction of its Phase II expansion project in May with the intention to commence operations in late 2019.

Upon completion, the project will add 300,000 barrels of new liquids storage capacity capable of handling gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products. Phase II, when combined with Bluewing’s existing assets in the Port of Brownsville, will provide existing and potential customers approximately 1.1 million barrels of storage capacity serving South Texas and exports to Mexico and other international markets.

“We are very excited to break ground on our Phase II expansion project and continue to build upon our existing operations,” said Bluewing CEO Todd Reid. “Phase II will al

NextDecade Signs EPC Contract with Bechtel

NextDecade Corporation announced May 28 the signing of two contracts with Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG proposed project at the Port of Brownsville.

The EPC contracts are for the first phase of the Rio Grande LNG project, which consists of three liquefaction trains, two 180,000 cubic meter storage tanks and two marine berths totaling $9.565 billion. Each liquefaction train is expected to have capacity up to 5.87 million tons per annum of LNG, which would generate an EPC cost of approximately $543 per ton for the first three trains.

“Bechtel’s extensive experience developing LNG projects on the U.S. Gulf Coast, along with our advantaged site and technology choices, is expected to enable NextDecade – in just the first three trains – to have the lowest cost per ton greenfield LNG project

Port of Brownsville Ready for 2019 Hurricane Season

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The Port of Brownsville is prepared for hurricane season.

During hurricane season, June 1 through Nov. 30, the Port of Brownsville operates under the U.S. Coast Guard’s Port Hurricane Condition IV, with all emergency equipment inspected and personnel prepared for severe weather events.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season will be “near-normal” with 9 to 15 named storms, of which 4 to 8 could become hurricanes. NOAA provides these ranges with a 70 percent confidence.

Two to four of the hurricanes predicted for 2019 could be a category 3 or higher. A category 3 hurricane involves winds from 111 to 130 mph that cause significant damage to property, humans and animals, and can cause extensive inland flooding.

International Seafarer Center: Home Away From Home

The International Seafarer Center provides spiritual respite and access to small comforts for all properly documented crew members visiting the Port of Brownsville since 1974.

The center is led by Chaplain Andreas Lewis, who worked at the center as a chaplain’s assistant from 1981 to 1986 under the guidance of Reverend Will Aten.

Since taking over the center in 2009, Chaplain Lewis has made it a point to board all liquid, bulk and break-bulk cargo vessels calling on the Port of Brownsville, with assistance from the port’s Harbor Master’s Office.

As part of the center, the chaplain meets individuals from all around the world and learns about their lives. Mariners frequently share noteworthy stories about their travels.

“We’ve had a ship come in where a seaman came and showed me, ‘see where that bullet hole is? That’s where pirates shot at us.’ These guys face m

Landmark Agreement: BND and NextDecade announce partnership to fund channel deepening

The Brownsville Navigation District and NextDecade Corporation announced April 24 a landmark agreement set to transform the business landscape of the Rio Grande Valley.

The Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project (BIH) Funding Agreement commits NextDecade to privately fund key improvements to the Brownsville Ship Channel. The company will pay 100 percent of the deepening of the ship channel from the Gulf of Mexico to the western boundary of the proposed Rio Grande LNG project site at the Port of Brownsville. NextDecade will also fund the widening of the bend close to the entrance of the Brownsville ship channel to improve navigational safety.

“A wider, deeper channel not only benefits existing and future port customers, it also benefits our LNG partners,” said John Reed, Brownsville Navigation District chairman. “When complete, the deeper channel will make us among t