Class-A Warehouses Coming to GEOTRAC Industrial Hub

Brownsville’s first Class-A warehouse park is in the works after OmniTRAX, Inc. landed an agreement with Majestic Realty Co. to develop the project on a 200-acre parcel within the GEOTRAC Industrial Hub at the Port of Brownsville.

The development of up to 2.8-million square feet during 15 years is expected to attract diverse companies, particularly wholesale distributors, to the region, driving job creation and helping to grow the economy in the Rio Grande Valley.

“The area around Brownsville is going through a commercial resurgence due to its proximity to Mexico, access to the Gulf and first class infrastructure,” said Tony Manos, senior vice president of Industrial Development for OmniTRAX. “OmniTRAX and Majestic Realty, with the support of the Port of Brownsville, are set to provide companies with the capabilities needed to successfully service their clients in south Tex

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New Officers Join Port Police Department

The Port of Brownsville added two new officers to its police force during the Brownsville Navigation District Commissioners regular board meeting held January 18, 2017.

Port of Brownsville Police Chief Carlos Garcia administered the oath of office to officers Alejandro Saucedo and Jorge Moreno.

Saucedo, 23, from Brownsville, received his peace officer certification after graduating from the Texas Southmost College Justice Institute in 2015. He previously worked as jailer with Cameron County.

Moreno, 27, also from Brownsville, served in the U.S. Army Reserves, having received an Army Commendation Medal and a National Defense Service Medal. Moreno worked as a dispatcher for the Harbor Master Office and resigned in 2016 from his position to join the police academy. He received his peace officer certification after graduating from the Texas Southmost College Justice Institute in Jan

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BND Commission Dedicates Road Honoring Bill Reed

The Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners passed a resolution December 21, 2016, naming the SH 550 extension “Bill Reed Road,” in honor of William “Bill” Reed for the contributions he made to the Port of Brownsville as a BND board member.

Reed was elected to the BND Board of Commissioners in 1978 and served until 1996. He was board chairman from 1986 to 1990. Bill Reed was the father of John Reed, former chairman and current vice-chairman of the BND.

Follow us on Facebook and view photo album of the event

 

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Vulcan Materials Mexico Operation Support RGV Infrastructure Projects

 

Since 1987, Vulcan Materials has shipped crushed limestone throughout the Gulf from its 5,900-acre mine in Calica, Mexico, on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Unique to Vulcan’s operation is a proprietary harbor constructed adjacent to its mine, just south of Playa del Carmen. The harbor is connected to the mine by a five kilometer-long high speed 60-inch-wide conveyor system, moving up to 12 million tons annually of various grades of limestone, fines and related products to waiting ships. Vulcan operates three of its own Panama-max sized vessels to transport products to eager markets, in a completely vertically integrated operation.

At the Port of Brownsville, Vulcan imports about 700,000 short tons of crushed limestone annually, consumed by regional construction industries, where it is used for road and general construction industries, where it is used for road and general constr

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Temporary Relocation of Port Administration Office

The Port of Brownsville administration office has moved to its temporary location at Keppel AmFELS, 20000 SH 48, Brownsville.

The administration complex at 1000 Foust Road will undergo a complete renovation and expansion expected to take about 18 months. The project includes rehabilitation of the current building, construction of a new pod featuring a new boardroom, a new parking area, and construction of a new permit office in an adjacent building.

Hours of operation at the new location will remain Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. All visitors to the temporary port office are required to show proper government-issued photo identification (i.e. driver license, passport, etc.) at the Keppel AmFELS security gate.

For the duration of the renovation, the port mailing address will be 2993 N. Indiana Avenue, Suite B, Brownsville, Texas 78526.

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Overweight Permit Office Moved to Foust Road Gate

Due to renovation work being performed on the Port of Brownsville administration building the overweight permit office has temporary moved to the Foust Road entrance guard house.

Hours of operation at the new location is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon, and from 1 to 4 p.m.

Additionally, the inner outbound lane of the Foust Road gate is closed to traffic, allowing pedestrian traffic safe access to purchase permits.

Parking for truck drivers acquiring permits continues at Fishprint Road, across the street from the current port administration building.

To avoid delays, drivers are urged to obtain permits online at https://texas.promiles.com/brownsville/ or use the SH 550 port entrance to activate the permits.

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President Obama Gives Green Light to Brownsville Ship Channel Deepening Project

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — President Barack Obama today signed into law the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, authorizing the Brownsville Ship Channel deepening project, making it eligible for federal funding.

The Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project was one of 28 water infrastructure projects nationwide included in the WRDA and submitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to Congress for approval. The project calls for the Port of Brownsville channel to be deepened to 52 feet from its current design depth of 42 feet. When complete, the Port of Brownsville will become one of the deepest ports in the Gulf of Mexico.

“This is the announcement that we were anxiously waiting for and would not have been made possible without the support from our legislative delegation in Washington, D.C., Senator John Cornyn, Senator Ted Cruz, and Congressman Filemon

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West Plains, LLC Announces Grand Re-Opening Celebration for Port of Brownsville Grain Elevator

The Port of Brownsville’s grain elevator is nearing completion of its modernization and will re-start operations in support of South Texas grain farmers soon after following its grand re-opening event at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 15, 2016.

The renovation and modernization of the facility began in May 2016 undertaken by West Plains LLC, a grain elevator company part of the diversified BioUrja Group of companies.

The 50-year-old grain elevator has handled millions of tons of grain passing through the port in the past, and upon completion of its modernization it will be equipped for efficient and high-speed handling of grain through all modes of transportation – truck, rail and vessel loading and unloading. The renovated facility will provide storage for nearly 3 million bushels of grain, and in addition to the indirect economic impact on the region, it will add eight full-tim

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Port Director Highlights Record Year and Economic Impact At State of the Port Address

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The Port of Brownsville expects to set tonnage and revenue records in 2016 predicts Eduardo A. Campirano, Port Director & CEO.

Campirano made the prediction before a group of 150 present Thursday at his State of the Port Address in Brownsville.

In 2015, the port handled more than 10.1 million tons of cargo, exceeding the 2014 record of 8.4 million tons, and recorded almost $20 million in revenue. Although the final numbers for 2016 are not yet available the port is on track to set new tonnage and revenue records. Campirano credits the Brownsville Navigation Board (BND) of Commissioners, customers and business partners for the port’s best performance to date.

“It’s clear that together we are stronger, and that alignment and coordinated effort results in achievements like those we anticipate as we close out 2016,” Campirano added.

Campirano al

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GFOA Recognizes Port of Brownsville for Excellence in Financial Reporting

BROWNSVILLE, Texas—For the fifth consecutive year, the Brownsville Navigation District received the highest form of recognition for governmental accounting and financial reporting for its 2015 comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR).

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) presented the award to Stephen B. Fitzgibbons, Port of Brownsville finance director.

“The Brownsville Navigation District commissioners and staff are dedicated to full financial transparency,” said BND Chairman John Wood. “On behalf of the board of commissioners, I commend the BND financial team on their commitment to successfully increasing the quality of our annual financial reporting.”

“I am fortunate to work alongside a team of professionals committed to the highest financial standards in accuracy, clarity and transparency,” Fitzgibbons said.

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Port Matters October 2016 issue

The October 2016 issue of Port Matters is available HERE.

Subscribe to Port Matters for the latest stories and trends from the Port of Brownsville and the maritime industry. Don’t miss out on the news, click HERE to sign up to our bimonthly newsletter.

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Port of Brownsville Introduction

A major center for intermodal transportation and industrial development, the Port of Brownsville is the only deep water seaport directly on the U.S./Mexico border. Opened in 1936, at the southernmost tip of Texas and connected to the Gulf of Mexico by a 17-mile long ship channel, the Port of Brownsville is also the largest land-owning public port authority in the nation with approximately 40,000 acres.

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