BROWNSVILLE, Texas —  Texan Cement plans to expand its storage capability of 14,000 short tons of cement to 40,000 to fit growing volume demand in the Rio Grande Valley.

The expansion is phase two of a plan to transform Texan Cement’s entire operation from a big bag operation- transportation of cement in bags that resemble grocery store bags- to a bulk and cement terminal. The capital investment for the project is $10 million of which the company has spent $1.5 million.

“The Rio Grande Valley has grown and the demand for cement, specifically our cement and our price point that we have, is growing so much that we’re constantly having to extend our hours so that we can meet demand,” said J. C. Echeverria, CFO and Operations Officer of American Cement Advisors, Texan Cement’s parent company.

The growing diversity of industries doing business in the Rio Grande Valley and

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The Brownsville Navigation District honored the dedicated work and sacrifice of Port PD officers and all other peace officers around the nation during National Peace Officers Week held May 13-17.

To commemorate the honorable work and sacrifice of peace officers everywhere, the BND Board of Commissioners passed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day and the week in which the date falls as National Peace Officers Week in the Port of Brownsville.

The port’s Police Department also hosted a peace officer memorial ceremony May 16. The officers received badges to commemorate the event and gear bags with the traditional blue line that denotes service.

“Police like any other profession each have an understanding amongst each other for what they do and what they go through on a daily basis, the thin blue line demonstrates support for

Bluewing Midstream LLC is expanding its liquid storage capacity at the Port of Brownsville to support growing customer demand.

The liquid bulk terminal and logistics operator began construction of its Phase II expansion project in May with the intention to commence operations in late 2019.

Upon completion, the project will add 300,000 barrels of new liquids storage capacity capable of handling gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products. Phase II, when combined with Bluewing’s existing assets in the Port of Brownsville, will provide existing and potential customers approximately 1.1 million barrels of storage capacity serving South Texas and exports to Mexico and other international markets.

“We are very excited to break ground on our Phase II expansion project and continue to build upon our existing operations,” said Bluewing CEO Todd Reid. “Phase II will al

NextDecade Corporation announced May 28 the signing of two contracts with Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG proposed project at the Port of Brownsville.

The EPC contracts are for the first phase of the Rio Grande LNG project, which consists of three liquefaction trains, two 180,000 cubic meter storage tanks and two marine berths totaling $9.565 billion. Each liquefaction train is expected to have capacity up to 5.87 million tons per annum of LNG, which would generate an EPC cost of approximately $543 per ton for the first three trains.

“Bechtel’s extensive experience developing LNG projects on the U.S. Gulf Coast, along with our advantaged site and technology choices, is expected to enable NextDecade – in just the first three trains – to have the lowest cost per ton greenfield LNG project

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The Port of Brownsville is prepared for hurricane season.

During hurricane season, June 1 through Nov. 30, the Port of Brownsville operates under the U.S. Coast Guard’s Port Hurricane Condition IV, with all emergency equipment inspected and personnel prepared for severe weather events.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season will be “near-normal” with 9 to 15 named storms, of which 4 to 8 could become hurricanes. NOAA provides these ranges with a 70 percent confidence.

Two to four of the hurricanes predicted for 2019 could be a category 3 or higher. A category 3 hurricane involves winds from 111 to 130 mph that cause significant damage to property, humans and animals, and can cause extensive inland flooding.

The International Seafarer Center provides spiritual respite and access to small comforts for all properly documented crew members visiting the Port of Brownsville since 1974.

The center is led by Chaplain Andreas Lewis, who worked at the center as a chaplain’s assistant from 1981 to 1986 under the guidance of Reverend Will Aten.

Since taking over the center in 2009, Chaplain Lewis has made it a point to board all liquid, bulk and break-bulk cargo vessels calling on the Port of Brownsville, with assistance from the port’s Harbor Master’s Office.

As part of the center, the chaplain meets individuals from all around the world and learns about their lives. Mariners frequently share noteworthy stories about their travels.

“We’ve had a ship come in where a seaman came and showed me, ‘see where that bullet hole is? That’s where pirates shot at us.’ These guys face m

The Brownsville Navigation District and NextDecade Corporation announced April 24 a landmark agreement set to transform the business landscape of the Rio Grande Valley.

The Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project (BIH) Funding Agreement commits NextDecade to privately fund key improvements to the Brownsville Ship Channel. The company will pay 100 percent of the deepening of the ship channel from the Gulf of Mexico to the western boundary of the proposed Rio Grande LNG project site at the Port of Brownsville. NextDecade will also fund the widening of the bend close to the entrance of the Brownsville ship channel to improve navigational safety.

“A wider, deeper channel not only benefits existing and future port customers, it also benefits our LNG partners,” said John Reed, Brownsville Navigation District chairman. “When complete, the deeper channel will make us among t

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Keppel AmFELS reached a pair of construction milestones April 30 in the building of two containership vessels for Pasha Hawaii.

Executives from both companies were joined by Brownsville Navigation District Chairman John Reed and other federal, state and local dignitaries for the ceremonial keel laying for M/V George III and the cutting of the first steel plates for M/V Janet Marie, the two containerships currently being built at the Port of Brownsville. 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 construction of the two new dual-fuel LNG containerships,” said Simon Lee, president of Keppel AmFELS. “Texas currently ranks third in the nation for domestic maritime jobs and we are proud to support a thriving skilled workforce in our local communit

Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano was recently a guest on KURV’s radio show “The Valley’s Morning News”.

Campirano spoke about the LNG projects looking to set up at the Port of Brownsville and the Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project Funding Agreement the Brownsville Navigation District recently signed with NextDecade Corporation.

Listen to the interview HERE

BY STEVE CLARK / The Brownsville Herald

Article published Wednesday, Thursday, April 25, 2019

NextDecade Corporation, which plans to build a liquefied natural gas export terminal at the Port of Brownsville, signed a deal Wednesday with the Brownsville Navigation District committing the company to paying for deepening about half of the Brownsville Ship Channel. The project is officially known as the Brazos Island Harbor Improvement Project.

Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano was recently a guest on KURV’s radio show “The Valley’s Morning News”.

Campirano spoke about several key projects critical to the future of the Port of Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley. These projects will further boost the direct job creation impacts of the port and help transform the overall economic landscape of our region.

Listen to the interview HERE

The Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway (BRG) received the Railroad of the Year Award after capping off a record-breaking year in 2018 for the movement of carloads.

The award was presented to Norma Torres, BRG president & COO; Fernando Gonzalez, BRG general manager; and Tony Chavez, BRG vice president of business development, during OmniTRAX’s annual National Leadership Meeting in February.

The recognition is given to the OmniTRAX-managed railroad that performs exceedingly well in each of six core company values.

“We are thrilled to receive this great honor and want to acknowledge that it wouldn’t be possible without the world’s greatest rail team back in Brownsville,” said Torres. “We also want to thank our many partners who helped make this possible – our shippers, the Port of Brownsville, the Class 1 railroads we interchange with and the U.S. and Mexi