Page 5 – Port of Brownsville

Port of Brownsville Recognizes Norma Torres with 2023 Chairman’s Award

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — December 15, 2023 –Former Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway (BRG) President & COO Norma Torres Norma Torres received the prestigious 2023 Chairman’s Award in recognition of her exemplary career during the Port of Brownsville’s Annual Customer Appreciation Luncheon held Dec. 14, at the Ambassador Event Center.

The event highlights the achievements of port tenants and customers throughout the year.

After working as a bookkeeper at the port, Torres joined the BRG in 1989 as a contract laborer. In 2001, she assumed leadership of the BRG becoming the first female president of a Texas shortline railroad. Under her direction, the BRG experienced remarkable growth, from 26,000 annual railcar loads in 2001 to more than 85,000 estimated in 2023. Since 2019, annual volumes have grown exponentially, a trend that is expected to continue.

Torr

Closing Gaps in Cross Border Trade

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

A Central Hub of Commerce and Sustainable Growth

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

Port of Brownsville Receives $11.5 Million Grant for Reconstruction of Cargo Dock 3

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – October 6, 2023 — The Port of Brownsville’s Cargo Dock 3 reconstruction project has secured an $11.5 million grant under the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) new Maritime Infrastructure Program.

On Sept. 28, the Texas Transportation Commission approved a historic $240 million in funding for Texas ports to help increase trade, improve safety, and provide a more robust supply chain for the state and the nation. The Port of Brownsville’s Cargo Dock 3 project is one of 31 projects selected to receive funding.

“We applaud our state leaders for their support and commitment to strengthen the Port of Brownsville as a leading maritime port,” said Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano. “It is essential to provide the highest quality infrastructure for our customers and tenants to maintain our status as a strategic asset for t

Modern Marvels: Legacy Industries Repurpose the Past and Build the Present

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,

A Magnet for Trade: FTZ No. 62 Tops $10B for Value of Imports and Exports

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Friday, September 1, 2023 – The Port of Brownsville’s Foreign Trade Zone No. 62 (FTZ) saw a boost in the value of goods transported in 2022, reaching a record total of $13.9 billion in exports and imports – a notable increase from the $9.7 billion recorded in 2021.

The U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board’s 2022 report to Congress, published Aug. 22, revealed that FTZ No. 62 held its position as the second highest-ranking FTZ in the country for the value of exported commodities. The export value in 2022 was over $8.2 billion, continuing an upward trajectory from the $5.2 billion reported in 2021. Additionally, FTZ No. 62 ranked 20th in the nation for imports, with a notable value of $5.7 billion.

“Our foreign trade zone serves as a crucial connection for manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers, leading the charge in international trade for th

Notice of Meeting to Vote on Tax Rate

A tax rate of $0.025589 per $100 valuation has been proposed by the governing body of BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT.

PROPOSED TAX RATE $0.025589 per $100 NO-NEW-REVENUE TAX RATE $0.028039 per $100 VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE $0.025589 per $100

The no-new-revenue tax rate is the tax rate for the 2023 tax year that will raise the same amount of property tax revenue for BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT from the same properties in both the 2022 tax year and the 2023 tax year.

The voter-approval rate is the highest tax rate that BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT may adopt without holding an election to seek voter approval of the rate.

The proposed tax rate is not greater than the no-new-revenue tax rate. This means that BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT is not proposing to

OmniTRAX Names Shariff Gonnella BRG President

OmniTRAX, a comprehensive supply-chain and logistics solutions provider, and the transportation affiliate of The Broe Group, has named former Amazon global supply chain executive, Shariff Gonnella, President of The Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway, LLC (BRG). Gonnella’s vast experience developing global infrastructure and international transportation strategies will help reshape the role that the Port of Brownsville plays in North America’s port capacity. The appointment follows announcements of major Brownsville area projects, including a state-of-the-art space port and the largest greenfield energy project in the history of the United States.

“Texas has continued

BIH Project Gets a Boost: Great Lakes Receives Notice to Proceed for Phase 1 of Channel Deepening Project

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Monday, July 24, 2023 – The Brazos Island Harbor (BIH) Channel Improvement Project continues to move forward, as Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation today announced the receipt of Notice to Proceed to perform essential improvements to the Brownsville ship channel for NextDecade Corporation’s Rio Grande LNG project at the Port of Brownsville.

Great Lakes is set to commence Phase 1 of the project later this year.

The historic BIH project will deepen the 17-mile-long Brownsville ship channel from 42 to 52 feet, resulting in significant navigational safety improvements for commercial shipping in South Texas.

“The Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project is of monumental significance to the regional economy, strengthening the port as a critical player in the global supply chain,” said Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Camp

Puerto de Brownsville Gana Terreno en Sector Energético Tras Anuncio de Inversión de NextDecade

Compañía Confirma Decisión Final de Inversión Para Construir Fase 1 de Terminal Rio Grande LNG

BROWNSVILLE, Texas—Miércoles, 12 de julio, 2023 — NextDecade Corporation anunció hoy que ha tomado una decisión final de inversión positiva para construir los primeros tres trenes de licuefacción en la terminal Rio Grande LNG, la planta de exportación de gas natural licuado (GNL) más grande propuesta en los Estados Unidos que se construirá en el Puerto de Brownsville.

“El futuro de la economía del Valle del Río Grande comienza en el Puerto de Brownsville”, dijo el presidente del Distrito de Navegación de Brownsville, Esteban Guerra. “En nombre del puerto y de nuestra Junta de Comisionados del Distrito de Navegación de Brownsville, felicitamos a NextDecade por el anuncio de su decisión final de inversión para el desarrollo

Good Energy: Port of Brownsville Gains Ground as Key Player in Energy Sector After NextDecade’s Positive Final Investment Decision

BROWNSVILLE, Texas—Wednesday, July 12, 2023 — NextDecade Corporation today announced it has made a positive final investment decision (FID) to construct the first three liquefaction trains at the company’s Rio Grande LNG (RGLNG) terminal, the largest proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in the United States to be built at the Port of Brownsville.

“The future of the Rio Grande Valley’s economy begins at the Port of Brownsville,” said Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra. “On behalf of the port and our Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners, we congratulate NextDecade on their final investment decision announcement for the development of the Rio Grande LNG facility. This dynamic project, the largest private infrastructure investment in the State of Texas, will provide good-paying jobs and economic growth to the region.�

Arranca Construcción de Nuevo Parque Industrial en el Puerto de Brownsville

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, 22 de junio, 2023 – El Puerto de Brownsville, el único puerto marítimo de aguas profundas ubicado directamente en la frontera de Estados Unidos y México, celebró hoy la ceremonia de inicio de construcción de un parque industrial de 118 acres.

Este nuevo proyecto industrial aprovecha las ventajas logísticas del puerto para apoyar a empresas manufactureras y clústeres industriales con una base de operaciones que combina el acceso a un transporte multimodal eficiente y amplias capacidades de almacenamiento. Este desarrollo brindará un ecosistema dinámico para que las empresas colaboren, innoven y florezcan en el puerto.

“El parque industrial en el Puerto de Brownsville es parte indispensable de nuestra misión de atraer nuevas industrias y oportunidades a la región del sur de Texas y el norte de México, creando empleos e impulsando el

Built for Growing Business: Port of Brownsville Hosts Groundbreaking Ceremony for 118-Acre Business Park

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – June 22, 2023 — The nation’s only deepwater seaport located on the U.S.-Mexico border, the Port of Brownsville, held today a groundbreaking ceremony for its latest economic development project, a 118-acre shovel-ready business park.

This new industrial project leverages the port’s logistical advantages to support manufacturing companies and industry clusters with a base of operations that combines access to efficient multimodal transportation and robust storage capabilities. This development will provide a dynamic ecosystem for companies to collaborate, innovate, and flourish.

“The business park at the Port of Brownsville is a critical component in our mission to attract new industries and businesses to the area, creating jobs, and driving economic growth,” said Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra. “On behalf of

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

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, May 22, 2023 – The Brownsville Navigation District (BND) proudly announces the recipients of the 2023 Port of Brownsville Scholarship. This program is in support and encouragement to the pursuit of higher education for students within the district.

Thirty-two local high school graduating seniors will receive $1,000 scholarships upon enrollment in a college, university, or technical school. 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.

“On behalf of the Brownsville Navigation District, we congratulate these students on their commitment to continue their education and learning the skills they need to thrive in the workforce

United in Celebration for National Maritime Day

By Esteban Guerra
Brownsville Navigation District Chairman

On May 16, 1936, communities across the Rio Grande Valley united to celebrate the opening of the Port of Brownsville, the first maritime port for the region. As we observe the port’s 87th anniversary, the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) invites the community to recognize and celebrate the numerous benefits that the maritime industry provides to our region.

A beacon of possibilities during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the port cemented its role as a vital transshipment center for agricultural goods in its earliest days, evolving to serve various industries including the steel, energy, shipbuilding, and space sectors of today.

Making a Deeper Impact in the Region

As the port for the region, in 2022 the Port of Brownsville moved 15.2 million tons o