b'MAY 15 - JUNE 25, 2023GULF COA ST PORTS 25(GULFcontinued fromrevenuegeneratorforthemillion in bonds to help fundandparkinggarageatPierin 2023 business at the Port page 24) port, were up 10%, with 55much-needed,time-sensitive16,theportsinitiatingpre- of Houston, TX.membranefacilityformoreship calls compared to 50 forprojects, including expansionliminarystudiesforprojectAshecitespositivesat squarefootageandmorethe same time last year. of the West Port Cargo Com- scope,budget,anddesign.the port this year, Randy Sti-cargo stacking height. Anotherstrongsegmentplex, major improvements toThe fourth cruise terminal isefel, director of multi-purpose Meanwhile,POPAsbreak- for the port in the 1st Qtr wasthePier25cruiseterminal,included in the ports 20-Yearfacilities for the Port of Hous-bulk port is expanding, creatingthecruisebusiness,whichandconstructionofapro- Strategic Master Plan, adoptedton,alsoacknowledgesthat, localjobsforthecommu- wasup72%comparedtoposed fourth cruise terminalby the Wharves Board in 2019. as of March 2023, Houstons nity,andcreatingvalueforFebruary2022notching71at Pier 16.year-to-date general cargo had customers.cruisesailingsand521,503The ports already work- p oRt ofh ouSton , tx a total decline of 18%. Theriotcloseshiscom- passenger movements (embar- ingonimprovementsatManyuncertaintiesforStill,Houstonstonnage ments, noting: We must givekations and debarkations), upCruiseTerminal25topre- the global economic outlook,numbersarehuge.Thelatest credit to our employees whoa staggering 123%. The earlypareforthearrivalofCar- forwhichChinasfutureisU.S. Corps of Engineers report workedthroughoutCOVID.totalssuggestthattheportnivalsnew,largership,theone of the main wild cards,this spring shows the Houston Duringthistime,wehavecould break the record 1 mil- Jubilee,inDecember.AndwithastrugglingpropertyPortAuthorityin2021had doubledtheamountofmanlion passengers.inanticipationofapartner- sector and a policy shift fromthegreatesttonnageofany hours worked and have con- According to Rees, Galves- ship agreement with MSC tofocusing on economic growthU.S. seaport. Houston handled tinuedsince.Ourpeopleton isontracktoissue$100buildanewcruiseterminalabove all else, explain a drop266.5 short tons of total trade. make the difference. Of this, 190.7 million tons were imported product.p oRtg alVeSton , tx Pipe and steel imports are The Port of Galveston isthebreadandbutterofPort off to a strong start in 2023.Houston. When oil prices go WhencomparingFebruaryup, we are busy. And oil is $80 2023numberstothesamea barrel now. So, business is timelastyear(2022),per- good, Stiefel tells AJOT.formance is up for cargo andHouston handles a wide cruise,accordingtoRodgervariety of steel. We have had Rees, Galveston Wharves porta great year last year, but it director and CEO. wasnotarecordforsteel. In his report Rees notes,He says 99.9% of the ports Cargo tonnage was up almoststeelbusinessisimported 44% this February comparedproduct. tothesametimelastyear.Houstonalsoenjoysa Bulkgrains,fertilizer,liquidwidebaseofgeneralcargo. bulk,roll-on/roll-offcargo,Thisincludeslumberand and new cars are all dramati- supersacksofcement, cally up. Cargo ships callingwhich are efficiently shipped at the port totaled 52, a 13%inbulkcargoships.This increase over February 2022.(GULFcontinued on Layshipcalls,anotherAerial view of the Port Galveston, TX page 26)Buildingwhat your customers needPort Houston is investing in infrastructure now to increase capacity and improve efciency. Our largest-ever STS cranes at Bayport Container Terminal, double the number of truck gate entrances at Barbours Cut Container Terminal and expanding the Houston Ship Channel to accommodate larger vessels arejust the beginning. Get your cargo to your customers faster bywww.porthouston.com choosing Port Houston.www.porthouston.com'