Thanks for a Great First Year

A year ago, I started with the Port Bureau. I had no idea how much I was going to love this job!  The port community embraced me with open arms, and the relationships I built ten years ago when I arrived at the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston still support and guide me today. The Port Bureau continues to share beneficial knowledge and strategies to ensure our ports are the best in the nation, and I’m very grateful for the amazing team we have here. We collaborate and interact with high enthusiasm, and we set ambitious but attainable goals to improve our services, outreach, and advocacy efforts. Our sold-out events, like our last seven Commerce Club luncheons, are a testament of how well we worked together to achieve those goals, which will ultimately drive the Port Bureau forward to the next level. Proud of my team and thanks to all for making this year so memorable for me!

To expand on our efforts, one of our recent initiatives has been to establish and promote a strategic partnership between Texas and Panama. We are the second closest state geographically from Panama after Florida, and we are their number one trade partner. The U.S.-Panama Business Council (“USPA”) and PROPANAMA, the Panama government entity responsible for promoting international trade and investment, organized a conference on June 19-21, under the branding “Panama and the Texas Triangle”. We were able to participate along with several Port Bureau members in this unique Texas delegation that had representation from the following fields: agriculture, aviation, cybersecurity, energy, global trade, oil & gas, petroleum & chemicals, real estate, transportation, and more.

I participated in a panel to discuss the importance of our ports and how we need to work together to ensure smooth and steady vessel transits across the Panama Canal as the significance of the Canal in Texas cannot be overstated. The Canal plays a crucial role in facilitating trade and commerce, allowing for the efficient transportation of goods between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. As the energy and container market continues to rise in Asia, our production and exports will also increase to support that demand, and this has a direct impact on the Texas economy.

In 2023, Panama experienced a severe drought that caused significant challenges for the operation of the waterway. The lack of rainfall led to lower water levels in the Canal, impacting the ability of ships to navigate through the locks. This resulted in delays and restrictions on the size of vessels that could pass through, affecting the efficiency and profitability of the Canal. For us, the ability to transport goods quickly and cost-effectively through the Canal was impacted as the Panama Canal Authority was forced to reduce ship crossings by 36%.

During our visit, we discussed this issue with senior officials of the Panama Canal Authority and learned future plans and measures they are taking to prevent this from happening again. The Authority is investing about $3.5 billion over the next few years toward infrastructure and equipment, with plans to dam up the nearby Indio River and pipe fresh water into Lake Gatún to save water during rainy months and increase supply during drier times.  The commitment to ensuring transit through the Panama Canal was evident and everyone understands how critical our partnership stands. We discussed the importance of establishing a Texas-Panama Energy workgroup, to maintain open communication and capitalize opportunities available for both regions.  We will remain engaged and dedicated to meet the evolving needs of our maritime industry and will continue promoting this critical partnership to ensure Texas and the Panama Canal remains a vital link in global trade and transportation.

About the Author 

CAPT Eric Carrero, USCG (Ret.), joined the Greater Houston Port Bureau as president on July 1, 2023. He has 26 years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard, with experience in international affairs, port and vessel operations, and serving in the Sector Houston-Galveston from 2013-2021. CAPT Carrero holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Puerto Rico and a master’s degree in environmental management and policy from the American Public University System.