The following release was published by Port of Houston:
Port Houston reached another historic milestone when it celebrated the completion of Wharf 6 of its Bayport Container Terminal Expansion Project. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Maritime Administrator Admiral Ann Philips were among many federal, state, and local officials, partners, stakeholders, and customers on hand to celebrate the Bayport Container Terminal Expansion project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Remarking about the occasion, Port Commission Chairman Ric Campo said, “Today is more than a ribbon cutting for a concrete wharf; it is a symbol for the future of the Port and all the lives we will impact for the next generation.” Port Houston has seen double-digit cargo growth year over year. “This new wharf will enable the Port to keep up with the new growth and demand and help reduce supply chain congestion by providing additional capacity to berth another vessel around the clock,” Chairman Campo said.
“This wharf will help our Port and our region with the demands of cargo importers and exporters. This wharf will provide for the next generation of families by creating new jobs, sustaining existing jobs, and driving our region’s prosperity,” Chairman Campo added. USDOT invested nearly $80 million towards the wharf and yard space at the terminal, building on other investments to expand the capacity and enhance the efficiency of the terminal, including rehabilitation of the north side container yards, rehabilitation of wharf three, and expansion of the truck gate. The Houston Ship Channel is the busiest waterway in the nation, handling more cargo than any other U.S. port, and Chairman Campo said that as an advocate of the channel Port Houston has the responsibility to keep planning and building for the future growth and demands of the waterway. These projects include various wharf and berth improvements, cargo staging yards, zero-emission trucks, charging infrastructure, additional terminal space, and the deepening and widening of the Houston Ship Channel – Project 11. Program participants Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia were highlighted as some of the biggest champions of the Houston Ship Channel. Congresswoman Jackson Lee, Congressman Wesley Hunt, and Congressman Brian Babin have also partnered to support $55 million in Community Funded Project requests in the upcoming Congressional Appropriations Bill.
Source: Port of Houston