Page 4 – Port of Brownsville

OmniTRAX Names Shariff Gonnella BRG President

OmniTRAX, a comprehensive supply-chain and logistics solutions provider, and the transportation affiliate of The Broe Group, has named former Amazon global supply chain executive, Shariff Gonnella, President of The Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway, LLC (BRG). Gonnella’s vast experience developing global infrastructure and international transportation strategies will help reshape the role that the Port of Brownsville plays in North America’s port capacity. The appointment follows announcements of major Brownsville area projects, including a state-of-the-art space port and the largest greenfield energy project in the history of the United States.

“Texas has continued

BIH Project Gets a Boost: Great Lakes Receives Notice to Proceed for Phase 1 of Channel Deepening Project

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Monday, July 24, 2023 – The Brazos Island Harbor (BIH) Channel Improvement Project continues to move forward, as Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation today announced the receipt of Notice to Proceed to perform essential improvements to the Brownsville ship channel for NextDecade Corporation’s Rio Grande LNG project at the Port of Brownsville.

Great Lakes is set to commence Phase 1 of the project later this year.

The historic BIH project will deepen the 17-mile-long Brownsville ship channel from 42 to 52 feet, resulting in significant navigational safety improvements for commercial shipping in South Texas.

“The Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project is of monumental significance to the regional economy, strengthening the port as a critical player in the global supply chain,” said Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Camp

Puerto de Brownsville Gana Terreno en Sector Energético Tras Anuncio de Inversión de NextDecade

Compañía Confirma Decisión Final de Inversión Para Construir Fase 1 de Terminal Rio Grande LNG

BROWNSVILLE, Texas—Miércoles, 12 de julio, 2023 — NextDecade Corporation anunció hoy que ha tomado una decisión final de inversión positiva para construir los primeros tres trenes de licuefacción en la terminal Rio Grande LNG, la planta de exportación de gas natural licuado (GNL) más grande propuesta en los Estados Unidos que se construirá en el Puerto de Brownsville.

“El futuro de la economía del Valle del Río Grande comienza en el Puerto de Brownsville”, dijo el presidente del Distrito de Navegación de Brownsville, Esteban Guerra. “En nombre del puerto y de nuestra Junta de Comisionados del Distrito de Navegación de Brownsville, felicitamos a NextDecade por el anuncio de su decisión final de inversión para el desarrollo

Good Energy: Port of Brownsville Gains Ground as Key Player in Energy Sector After NextDecade’s Positive Final Investment Decision

BROWNSVILLE, Texas—Wednesday, July 12, 2023 — NextDecade Corporation today announced it has made a positive final investment decision (FID) to construct the first three liquefaction trains at the company’s Rio Grande LNG (RGLNG) terminal, the largest proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in the United States to be built at the Port of Brownsville.

“The future of the Rio Grande Valley’s economy begins at the Port of Brownsville,” said Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra. “On behalf of the port and our Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners, we congratulate NextDecade on their final investment decision announcement for the development of the Rio Grande LNG facility. This dynamic project, the largest private infrastructure investment in the State of Texas, will provide good-paying jobs and economic growth to the region.�

Arranca Construcción de Nuevo Parque Industrial en el Puerto de Brownsville

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, 22 de junio, 2023 – El Puerto de Brownsville, el único puerto marítimo de aguas profundas ubicado directamente en la frontera de Estados Unidos y México, celebró hoy la ceremonia de inicio de construcción de un parque industrial de 118 acres.

Este nuevo proyecto industrial aprovecha las ventajas logísticas del puerto para apoyar a empresas manufactureras y clústeres industriales con una base de operaciones que combina el acceso a un transporte multimodal eficiente y amplias capacidades de almacenamiento. Este desarrollo brindará un ecosistema dinámico para que las empresas colaboren, innoven y florezcan en el puerto.

“El parque industrial en el Puerto de Brownsville es parte indispensable de nuestra misión de atraer nuevas industrias y oportunidades a la región del sur de Texas y el norte de México, creando empleos e impulsando el

Built for Growing Business: Port of Brownsville Hosts Groundbreaking Ceremony for 118-Acre Business Park

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – June 22, 2023 — The nation’s only deepwater seaport located on the U.S.-Mexico border, the Port of Brownsville, held today a groundbreaking ceremony for its latest economic development project, a 118-acre shovel-ready business park.

This new industrial project leverages the port’s logistical advantages to support manufacturing companies and industry clusters with a base of operations that combines access to efficient multimodal transportation and robust storage capabilities. This development will provide a dynamic ecosystem for companies to collaborate, innovate, and flourish.

“The business park at the Port of Brownsville is a critical component in our mission to attract new industries and businesses to the area, creating jobs, and driving economic growth,” said Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra. “On behalf of

Port of Brownsville Honors High School Graduates with $1,000 Scholarships

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, May 22, 2023 – The Brownsville Navigation District (BND) proudly announces the recipients of the 2023 Port of Brownsville Scholarship. This program is in support and encouragement to the pursuit of higher education for students within the district.

Thirty-two local high school graduating seniors will receive $1,000 scholarships upon enrollment in a college, university, or technical school. The scholarship winners – selected for their academic performance, community involvement, extracurricular activities, and work experience, as well as for essays penned as part of their applications – attend 16 public and private high schools in the Brownsville and Los Fresnos area.

“On behalf of the Brownsville Navigation District, we congratulate these students on their commitment to continue their education and learning the skills they need to thrive in the workforce

United in Celebration for National Maritime Day

By Esteban Guerra
Brownsville Navigation District Chairman

On May 16, 1936, communities across the Rio Grande Valley united to celebrate the opening of the Port of Brownsville, the first maritime port for the region. As we observe the port’s 87th anniversary, the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) invites the community to recognize and celebrate the numerous benefits that the maritime industry provides to our region.

A beacon of possibilities during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the port cemented its role as a vital transshipment center for agricultural goods in its earliest days, evolving to serve various industries including the steel, energy, shipbuilding, and space sectors of today.

Making a Deeper Impact in the Region

As the port for the region, in 2022 the Port of Brownsville moved 15.2 million tons o

Rising to the Top: Port of Brownsville Among Leading Maritime Ports for Waterborne Cargo

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – May 16, 2023 – Consistently setting new records, the Port of Brownsville continues to gain national prominence among the leading maritime ports in the United States.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ most recent annual report ranking 150 maritime ports nationwide, the Port of Brownsville rose to 55th position in the country for the movement of waterborne cargo in 2021, a significant leap from 66th place in 2020.

Throughout 2021, 8.9 million tons of cargo were transported via the port’s waterways, representing a 30% increase from 2020’s 6.7 million tons. During that same period, traffic at the port recorded robust vessel activity with 1,854 vessel calls in 2021, signaling a 10.9% increase from the previous year’s total of 1,671.

“The Port of Brownsville has arrived, and we’ve been here for a while. We’re starting to see the

Forza Steels Strengthens Operations

Company Invests $60 million in Manufacturing Facility at Port of Brownsville

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – May 02, 2023- The Port of Brownsville continues to gain strength in the steel industry as Forza Steel invests $60 million to build its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at the port.

The Mexican company, which specializes in the manufacturing of carbon steel pipe, plans to install equipment in July to begin rolling mill operations.

For over 20 years, Forza Steel has serviced the Mexican and U.S. steel markets from their manufacturing facility located in Salinas Victoria, Nuevo León. The company selected the Port of Brownsville to enhance operations in the U.S. by getting closer to their customer base to close gaps in the supply chain.

“The Port of Brownsville is the perfect location for Forza Steel’s entry into the American market. The location fr

Powering Wind Energy Projects

The Port of Brownsville remains a leader in the movement of wind energy components, thanks to its logistical capabilities and strategic location along the U.S.-Mexico border.

During the first quarter of 2023, five vessels exported wind project cargo to South America, moving more than 80 windmill blades. The blades, manufactured locally by TPI Composites at its facility in Matamoros, Mexico, were transported to the port by truck via the Free Trade International Bridge at Los Indios and securely loaded on to vessels destined for Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru.

As the largest land-owning port in the U.S., the Port of Brownsville tops the nation for its capability of receiving, storing and moving massive components for the wind energy industry, including the largest windmill blades imported to the U.S. at 267-feet long. The port’s specialized equipment and skilled wo

Port of Brownsville Observes Western Hemisphere Ports Day

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – April 3, 2023 – The Port of Brownsville, in partnership with the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), and its entire hemispheric membership will commemorate Western Hemisphere Ports Day on April 5. The annual event recognizes the port industry’s role in efficient goods movement, job creation and propelling the economy in nations they serve across the Americas.

This year’s Ports Day theme, Resiliency & Building a Sustainable Future, explores the willpower, adaptability, and drive of the port industry, and how these qualities have continuously navigated this industry through challenging times.

Since 1936, the Port of Brownsville has demonstrated its power as the leading business developer in the region and a thriving economic engine for the Rio Grande Valley. Currently, the port is undertaking the Brazos Island Harbor (BIH) Channel Impro

BND Board of Commissioners Approves Resolution Supporting Conservation of Regional Ecosystem

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – March 29, 2023 – The Port of Brownsville continues its mission to advance business development in the Rio Grande Valley while conserving the regional ecosystem.

At a regular board meeting held Mar. 15, the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to pass a resolution recognizing the value of unique environmentally sensitive areas located within the 40,000 acres of the Port of Brownsville.

The resolution highlights the BND’s commitment to environmental stewardship through projects including the Bahia Grande Restoration Project, the Endangered Cat Corridor Project, the Peregrine Fund Project for the Protection of the Aplomado Falcon, the Las Lomas Preserve Project, as well as other perpetual conservation easements granted in connection with port and third-party projects.

“The Brownsville Navigation

Turning Point: BIH Project Starts with Placement Area Improvements

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – March 6, 2023– The first step in Phase 2 of the Brazos Island Harbor (BIH) Channel Improvement Project is underway as the Port of Brownsville’s dredged material placement area improvement project began in early February. The historic BIH Channel Improvement project will deepen the 17-mile-long Brownsville ship channel from 42 to 52 feet.

The Brownsville Navigation District (BND) Board of Commissioners at a regular board meeting held Feb. 1, unanimously voted to award a $13.6 million contract for the channel improvements to RLB Contracting, Inc., for Placement Areas 5B, 7 and 8. A placement area is a federally authorized disposal site for dredged material.

As part of the dredging process, materials collected are placed in approved disposal sites or for beneficial use purposes. Dredging for Phase 2 is estimated to remove 12 to 16 milli

Strong Link in Supply Chain: Port of Brownsville sees record cargo volumes in FY2022

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – February 6, 2023 – Since its establishment in 1936, the Port of Brownsville has maintained its commitment to serve as the leading maritime port for the Rio Grande Valley and Northern Mexico.

Throughout 2022, more than 15.2 million tons of diverse cargo moved through the port supporting various industries with efficient and reliable logistical services according to unaudited cargo volume reports. This forecast represents a 10.2 percent increase from the 13.8 million tons of cargo recorded in 2021, a new record for the Port of Brownsville.

The skilled workforce at the port has streamlined operations to move essential commodities such as break bulk like steel, and aluminum; liquid bulk petroleum products; project cargo such as wind energy and space industry components; and dry bulk like grains, aggregates, pet coke and cement.

Break bulk co