b'MARCH 22 - APRIL 4, 2021GULF COAST PORTS11Lone Star State ports overcoming adversities while advancing infrastructure enhancementsBy Paul Scott Abbott, AJOTProvingtheirresilience,2021, leading officials to say Texasportsaresurmount- the port will look completely ingchallengesposedbydifferentby2025.Endeav-severe weather events and theorstogetunderwayover COVID-19virustohandlethenext18monthsinclude record levels of activity whilereconstruction of two berths, moving forward with a host oftoboostgeneralcargo-han-major infrastructure advances. dling capacity more than 50 NotonlyhaveLonepercent;addinganewrail StarStateports,likeothersinterchangetrack,todouble throughoutthenationandinterchangecapability;and indeed the world, had to dealconstructionofa30-acre with the viral pandemic, butlaydownarea.Also,several thoseofEastTexaswereopenstoragelotsarebeing struckbyHurricaneLauraimproved and/or expanded.in late August and again byInthefiscalyearended HurricaneDeltainearlyAug. 31, 2020, Port of Beau-October,whileFebruarysmontpublicterminalscel-historicwinterstormhasebrated a record year, eclipsing caused extensive disruptions(ADVERSITIEScontin-throughout most of the state. ued on page 12) Port of Port Arthur continues to serve as an East Texas hub of diverse activity along the Sabine-Neches Waterway.Undaunted,theportsof Texasareforgingahead,as detailedonaone-by-one basis, starting near the Lou-isiana-Texaslineandhead- WE KNOWing southwestward along the Gulf of Mexico towards the U.S.-Mexico border:P ort ofP orta rthurofDespitetemporarydis- PEOPLEruptions to waterway activity related to hurricanes, the Port PortArthur,whichsuf-fered relatively minor storm damage,hascontinuedto handlediversecargoswhile advancingberthexpansion. Lengtheningby600feetof Berth 5 is to be followed by addition of a new 1,000-foot-long Berth 6.In 2020, the port imported enoughlumbertosupport building of more than 13,000 homesinEastTexasand neighboring Louisiana. Other cargoswithstrongimport volumes through Port Arthur includewoodpulp,usedin productionoftissue;wood pellets,arenewableenergy biomass; and single-use med-ical supplies. As a designated strategic port, Port Arthur last year handled moves of more than11,000piecesofmili-tary equipment. And the port saw exports of more than 25 millionbarrelsofultra-low-sulfur diesel, while serving as home to shipyard and shrimp-processing facilities.Port Arthur port officials note that 2020 also brought aMexicomadeeasy.new logo and commensurate Where Opportunity Docks! messaging, as well as approval ofastaff-developedwritten policyforfurtheradvance-ment of engagement of local woman-,minority-,veteran- anddisabledveteran-owned businesses.P ort ofb eauMontLocated42milesfrom theGulfofMexicoviathe Sabine-Neches Waterway, the1000 Foust Rd., Brownsville, TX 78521(956) 831-45921-800-378-5395PortofBeaumontiskick-ingoff$100million-plusportofbrownsville.comininfrastructureprojectsin'