Port Houston Adds New Hybrid RTG Cranes, Announces New Boat Tour Vessel
Port Houston Reinforces Commitment to Sustainability and Accessibility
The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority awarded a contract to Konecranes Finland Corporation for the purchase of 16 hybrid rubber-tired gantry (“RTG”) cranes for Bayport Container Terminal during its regular meeting on March 25. These new RTG cranes will be Port Houston’s first “one-over-six” container stacking units, setting a new standard moving forward while continuing to expand the port’s hybrid fleet to 46 in total. While this purchase underscores Port Houston’s sustainability efforts, this record also marks Port Houston’s second largest purchase of cranes and will help further optimize the use of terminal space.
Contract Awarded for New Boat Tour Vessel
The Port Commission also awarded a contract to Breaux Brothers Enterprises, Inc., for a new electric/diesel hybrid vessel to provide public tours of the Houston Ship Channel. The current tour boat, the M/V Sam Houston, has served the port for 67 years, providing free tours of the waterway to approximately 30,000 visitors every year. The new ADA-compliant vessel will allow Port Houston to better serve guests with restricted mobility, expand its maritime education outreach, and once again reinforce the port’s commitment to environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality. The estimated construction time for the new vessel is 12-14 months.
Port Houston's M/V Sam Houston is aglow in the setting sun along the Houston Ship Channel. Photo courtesy of Port Houston.
Houston Ship Channel Expansion Updates
During the meeting, staff noted the recent bid opening for the latest scheduled Project 11 work: construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”) of the Beltway 8 Dredged Material Placement Area is now expected to commence in May. In March, Port Houston submitted a letter of intent to the USACE to partner on a feasibility study authorized by WRDA 2024 for Project 12, the next deepening project proposed for the Houston Ship Channel.
Ports Days in Austin
CEO Charlie Jenkins noted that during the recent Ports Day in Austin, Port Houston joined the other 22 Texas seaports of the Texas Ports Association ("TPA") to advocate for infrastructure funding and other TPA legislative proposals, authored and filed by port champions Senator Carol Alvarado and Representative Mary Ann Perez.
Port Houston has owns and operats the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel, including the area’s largest breakbulk facility and two of the most efficient container terminals in the country. Port Houston is the advocate and a strategic leader for the Channel.
Note: All photos courtesy of Port Houston.