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US shipments of wind power equipment soar

BY CHRIS BARNETT / Journal of Commerce

Article published Wednesday, January 30, 2019, in www.joc.com

Under the influence of a “super cycle” driven by tax credits, approximately 38,000 megawatts of wind farm development were under construction or in advanced development in the US by the third quarter of 2018, up 28 percent from the same period in 2017. Overall, total installed wind capacity had reached 90,550 megawatts in November, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). When those projects are completed, installed capacity will have increased another 42 percent. And, thanks to the increasing viability of wind-based energy production and the vagaries of tax law, the building boom should continue through at least 2023.

For wind-related project cargo logistics, that equates to a lot of business, as

Port of Brownsville Announces New Director of Communications

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The Port of Brownsville announces the promotion of Jorge I. Montero as new director of communications, effective Dec. 17, 2018.

Montero has more than 14 years of experience in journalism, marketing and communications, previously serving as communications specialist for the port. He now oversees the department responsible for implementing internal and external communications and media relations efforts for the Port of Brownsville.

Prior to joining the port, Montero worked for the Brownsville Economic Development Council as marketing and design coordinator and assistant director of Spanish publications for the Brownsville Herald. He earned a B.A. from the University of Texas at Brownsville (now UTRGV).

Port of Brownsville Foreign Trade Zone Ranks Second in Value of Exports

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — For the third straight year, Foreign Trade Zone No. 62 (FTZ) at the Port of Brownsville ranks second in the nation for the value of exports, according to the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board’s annual report to Congress released Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018.

The port’s FTZ reported more than $3.5 billion in exported goods in 2017. Additionally, FTZ No. 62 ranked 18th nationally for the value of imports totaling more than $3.6 billion. The Port of Brownsville FTZ has consistently ranked in the top five nationally since 2012, earning the number 1 spot in the nation in 2012 and 2013. The port’s FTZ has ranked second in the list for three straight years now (2015, 2016, 2017).

“The Port of Brownsville continues to maintain a standard of excellence as the leading economic engine in the Rio Grande Valley,” said John Reed, Brownsville Navigation District Ch

Port of Brownsville Chairman’s Award Presented to West Plains LLC

BROWNSVILLE, Texas—The Port of Brownsville presented West Plains LLC with its 2018 Chairman’s Award in recognition of the company’s investments and rehabilitation efforts of the port’s iconic grain elevator.

Brownsville Navigation District Chairman John Reed presented the award to West Plains CEO Amit Bhandari at the port’s annual customer appreciation luncheon, Dec. 4. The event was attended by nearly 200 guests, including local, regional and state public officials, port tenants, community and regional business leaders.

“West Plains’ dedicated investments at the port allow for more quality job opportunities in our region and provide South Texas farmers the opportunity for their products to reach international markets,” said Reed. “We are proud to partner with a company that believes in the port and the people of the Rio Grande Valley.”

West Plains entered in

Survey Reveals Strong Support for Port of Brownsville as Positive Economic Driver for the Rio Grande Valley

More than 95 percent say port has positive economic impact; 57 percent plan for more port business next year

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The Port of Brownsville, the only deepwater port located on the U.S.-Mexico border, completed its first public opinion survey of port tenants, logistics, stakeholders and other service personnel, revealing that 95 percent view the port favorably, with 57 percent of respondents planning to increase their port business activity in the next year.

“The Port of Brownsville’s strategic location combined with top dynamic economic industries—including energy and steel—provide the ideal hub for economic growth in the region and bilateral relationships between Mexico and the United States,” said Eduardo A. Campirano, port director and CEO of the Port of Brownsville. “The newly signed U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement creates a favorable business

Port of Brownsville Receives $1.5M TxDOT Grant

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has awarded the Port of Brownsville a $1.5 million Rider 45 grant to enhance the port’s intermodal connectivity, further facilitating domestic and international trade in the Rio Grande Valley.

The state funds will be used for the construction of the South Port Connector Project, which is part of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority’s (CCRMA) East Loop Corridor plan. When complete, the port connector road will span two miles and will connect Ostos Road at the port with State Highway 4.

“The Port of Brownsville is a valuable asset to the Texas economy and a major economic force in the region,” said John Reed, Brownsville Navigation District Chairman. “Infrastructure improvements such as the port connector facilitate our efforts in strengthening the port’s position as the main hub for domestic

Made in Brownsville for the World to See

Keppel AmFELS and Pasha Hawaii celebrate steel cutting for two new containerships

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Construction of the first of two containerships is underway at the Port of Brownsville.

On Sept. 25, Keppel AmFELS cut the first steel plates for the M/V George III, one of two ‘Ohana Class vessels the Brownsville-based company is building for the Pasha Hawaii fleet, which provides service to the Hawaii/Mainland trade lane.

Once built, the new 774-foot U.S. Jones Act vessels will carry 2,525 TEUs, with a sailing speed of 23.0 knots. The design of the ship’s hull has been fully optimized using computational fluid dynamics and will be one of the most hydrodynamically efficient hulls in the world. Delivery of the vessels is expected in 2020.

“We are pleased to be able to support the Pasha Hawaii fleet with the design, engineering and constr

STURGIS vessel en route to Brownsville for final shipbreaking and recycling

GALVESTON, Texas – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ STURGIS vessel left this morning for the Port of Brownsville for her final journey. In two to three days, she will arrive at the International Shipbreaking Limited facility where she will be dismantled for recycling. The vessel is being towed from Galveston where it has undergone radiological decommissioning that included the safe removal of all components of the deactivated nuclear reactor and all associated radioactive waste that was formerly onboard the STURGIS.

The STURGIS was the world’s first floating nuclear power plant. She was converted from a World War II Liberty Ship in the 1960s to a mobile nuclear plant. Over the past three years in Galveston, Texas, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and it prime contractor, APTIM Federal Services, has been implementing the challenging and complex efforts to d

Congressman Vela Announces Infrastructure Grant

BROWNSVILLE, Texas –Congressman Filemon Vela (D-TX) announced today that U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration will provide a grant to the Port of Brownsville. The port will be awarded $1.8 million for the assembly of a Public Vessel Assembly and Erection Pad (PAD) which will assist businesses in the ship-building industry.

“This infrastructure project is critical to the continued economic development of South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. It will create jobs and bring private investment to the area,” Rep. Vela said. “I look forward to continuing my work alongside congressional colleagues and local leaders to ensure that South Texas has the needed resources to keep moving forward.”

“This grant demonstrates the federal government’s confidence in the Port of Brownsville and its role in helping create 700 high-paying new jobs for our comm

Port of Brownsville Recognizes National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — For the third consecutive year, the Port of Brownsville joins the entire U.S. trucking industry in celebration of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (ATA), Sept. 9-14.

“Cargo moving to and from the Port of Brownsville gets there basically by water, rail or road. It’s a relationship dependent upon the cooperation of each mode of transportation and truck drivers play a vital role in our success,” said John Reed, chairman of the Brownsville Navigation District.

The event highlights the efforts of professional truck drivers who deliver the nation’s freight safely and securely every day. In 2017, the Port of Brownsville recorded more than 300,000 truck movements.

According to the American Trucking Association, there are more than 3.5 million professional truck drivers nationwide. These professional men and women log more than 273 billion miles annu

Port of Brownsville Announces New Directors

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The Port of Brownsville announces the promotion of a new director of finance and the appointment of a new director of special projects.

Lorena Hernandez, CPA, is the port’s new finance director following the retirement of Steve Fitzgibbons. Fitzgibbons served as the port’s finance director for more than five years.

Hernandez manages the port’s nine-member financial team, winner of six consecutive Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting presented by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). She was previously assistant finance director.

Prior to joining the port, Hernandez worked for a local CPA firm and served as an internal auditor for the University of Texas System. She is a Class 1 Assessor/Collector and an active member of the Texas Association of Assessing Officers, American Ins

Texan port confident of weathering Trump’s tariff storm

At Brownsville, a gateway for steel into Mexico, bilateral trade shows no signs of cooling

BY JUDE WEBBER / Financial Times

Article published Tuesday, July 24, 2018

A huge crane unloads giant steel slabs off a ship from Russia, destined for factories in Mexico. Queues of trucks, some of the 800 a day heading across the border, fill up with oil products. Steel coils, animal feed, sugar and colossal wind turbines lie in warehouses or lots awaiting their journey south.

This is the Port of Brownsville in Texas, the biggest gateway for steel into Mexico, a big handler of US oil products heading over the border and the front line in Washington’s escalating trade war with its neighbour and Nafta partner. The US ratcheted up tensions this month by filing complaints against Mexico and other countries at the World Trade Organiza

Home Sweet Home: Newly Renovated Administration Complex Opens in August

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — There is no place like home.

After 18 months, the Brownsville Navigation District and Port of Brownsville staff returns to their home in the completely repurposed and enlarged administration office campus at 1000 Foust Road.

In January 2017, the port’s administrative offices were temporary relocated to the Keppel AmFELS complex at 20000 SH 48 while the port’s main building underwent a needed renovation and expansion.

The renovated office campus adds 12,473 square feet of new office space for a total of 26,500 square feet. The project included remodeling the two existing pods, adding a third pod, and building a new office adjacent to the port’s Foust Road entrance to accommodate a truck permitting office with a truck staging area and a modern records facility.

The repurposed offices have been completely gutted, retrofitted and cost-effectively mode

Port of Brownsville Releases New Directory

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The Port of Brownsville released its comprehensive directory for 2018. The marketing and communications tool is an annual guide featuring in-depth articles, facts and details about the port and related industries.

The full color, 88-page publication serves as a useful guide for prospective clients looking to establish business opportunities in the region and for the community at large to learn more about the port’s role as a vital economic engine of the Rio Grande Valley.

The publication includes a detailed 4-page map of the port’s facilities highlighting tenants, docks, sheds, patios and other important assets. The business directory contains approximately 300 local, regional, state, national and international businesses listed in 63 different categories.

The directory is distributed to industry related companies and associations, area economic develo

USS Tripoli comes to Brownsville for scrapping

BY STEVE CLARK/The Brownsville Herald

Article published Thursday, July 19, 2018

Fifty-three years after it was launched from the Ingalls Shipbuilding yard in Pascagoula, Miss., the 598-foot amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LPH 10) is now in for dismantling by International Shipbreaking LLC, part of the EMR Group.

The vessel was decommissioned and struck from the naval register in 1995 after nearly 30 years in service. The Tripoli was one of seven Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ships, the first vessels of their type designed as helicopter carriers. LPH stands for “Landing Platform Helicopter.” The first ship of the class, the Iwo Jima (LPH 2), was scrapped in 1996 in Brownsville.

The Tripoli completed three deployments to Vietnam during its career and was the first amphibious warship to carry a full squadron of AV-8 Harrier short-takeoff/vert