Page 4 – Port of Brownsville

Modern Marvels: Legacy Industries Repurpose the Past and Build the Present

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Tuesday, September 5, 2023 – Two containerships crossing paths at the Port of Brownsville’s 17-mile-long ship channel in June illustrated the modern-day ship life cycle. As Pasha Hawaii’s newly completed MV Janet Marie containership docked at Seatrium AmFELS’ shipyard, Pasha’s retired SV Horizon Pacific containership was drawn by Signet Maritime’s tugboats to berth at SA Recycling/SteelCoast for recycling.

Known as the premier ship recycling port of the United States, securing 85% of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), and U.S. Navy contracts, the Port of Brownsville is also the primary shipbuilding port of Texas. In 2022, one of the three major ship recycling companies at the port, SteelCoast merged with SA Recycling to become the company’s only ship recycling facility in the United States,

A Magnet for Trade: FTZ No. 62 Tops $10B for Value of Imports and Exports

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Friday, September 1, 2023 – The Port of Brownsville’s Foreign Trade Zone No. 62 (FTZ) saw a boost in the value of goods transported in 2022, reaching a record total of $13.9 billion in exports and imports – a notable increase from the $9.7 billion recorded in 2021.

The U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board’s 2022 report to Congress, published Aug. 22, revealed that FTZ No. 62 held its position as the second highest-ranking FTZ in the country for the value of exported commodities. The export value in 2022 was over $8.2 billion, continuing an upward trajectory from the $5.2 billion reported in 2021. Additionally, FTZ No. 62 ranked 20th in the nation for imports, with a notable value of $5.7 billion.

“Our foreign trade zone serves as a crucial connection for manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers, leading the charge in international trade for th

Notice of Meeting to Vote on Tax Rate

A tax rate of $0.025589 per $100 valuation has been proposed by the governing body of BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT.

PROPOSED TAX RATE $0.025589 per $100 NO-NEW-REVENUE TAX RATE $0.028039 per $100 VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE $0.025589 per $100

The no-new-revenue tax rate is the tax rate for the 2023 tax year that will raise the same amount of property tax revenue for BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT from the same properties in both the 2022 tax year and the 2023 tax year.

The voter-approval rate is the highest tax rate that BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT may adopt without holding an election to seek voter approval of the rate.

The proposed tax rate is not greater than the no-new-revenue tax rate. This means that BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT is not proposing to

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