Vol. 1, No. 6, April 2017
Photo courtesy of CSC Sugar       

The first rail shipment arrived at the CSC packaging plant March 22. About 500 tons of sugar daily will be packaged in 50 kilogram bags for export.
CSC Sugar Opens Packaging and Distribution Operations at the Port of Brownsville

CSC Sugar began its new packaging and distribution operations at the Port of Brownsville March 22, 2017. The Connecticut company leased 242,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space at the port to export beet sugar to Africa.

CSC is one of the largest importers and exporters of refined sugar to and from North America. The company and the port began discussions about the project in late 2015, resulting in the new alignment with a host of integrated service providers.

In December 2016, the Port of Brownsville received full congressional authorization to pursue federal funding for the Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project after President Barack Obama signed the 2016 WRDA. The project calls for the Brownsville ship channel to be deepened to 52 feet from its current authorized depth of 42 feet.

Bill Aiming to Fund Texas Ports Clears Senate Committee

A bill creating a fund supporting future improvements to ship channels in Texas is heading to the full Senate for consideration.

Senate Bill 28, filed by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and co-authored by senators Juan “Chuy” Hijonosa, D-McAllen, and Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, received unanimous approval from the Senate Transportation Committee in March and is now awaiting approval from the Senate and House chambers.

The bill proposes the creation of a ship channel improvement revolving fund, controlled by the Texas Department of Transportation, which would help navigation districts finance qualified projects like channel widening or deepening. According to the bill, only projects authorized under the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) would be considered for funding.
Photo courtesy of Harlingen Economic Development Corporation

The new cold storage inspection facility at the Free Trade Bridge at Los Indios was dedicated March 24, 2017.

New Produce Inspection Facility Dedicated at Los Indios Bridge

A new cold storage inspection facility at the Los Indios international bridge will give produce importers a new alternative when entering the United States.

The new facility will be used by federal inspectors to ensure produce from Mexico is free of agricultural pests.

It is anticipated the new station will mean more border trade traffic for the underutilized Free Trade Bridge at Los Indios crossing.
Runners and walkers from across Rio Grande Valley participated in the event.
The 2017 Port of Brownsville 5K1M run/walk had a big turnout. All participants received a medal after reaching the finish line.

Annual 5K1M Run/Walk Attracts Close to 300 Participants
  
More than 280 enthusiastic runners and walkers from across the Rio Grande Valley participated in the annual Port of Brownsville 5K1M run/walk March 4, 2017.

This event served as the mid-point weigh-in for participants of The Challenge-RGV, an initiative by the University of Texas School of Public Health encouraging local residents to increase physical activity and live a healthy life.
Photo courtesy of Union Pacific

A Union Pacific train rolls through Sugar Land, TX. UP’s 2017 capital investment in the Lone Star state is slated for $452 million, the most in the railroad’s 23-state network.

Union Pacific to Invest $452M in its Texas Rail Infrastructure

Union Pacific is boosting safety and efficiency with an investment of $466 million in Texas this year.

UP’s investment plan includes $359 million to maintain railroad track and $93 million to maintain bridges in the state.

“Union Pacific’s targeted investments fund projects that strengthen our railroad tracks, increase safety and minimize delays as trains travel through communities across Texas,” said Brenda Mainwaring, Union Pacific vice president – Public Affairs, Southern Region.

This year’s planned $452 million capital expenditure in Texas is part of an ongoing investment strategy. From 2012 to 2016, Union Pacific invested more than $2.1 billion strengthening Texas’ transportation infrastructure.
BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

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PORT OF BROWNSVILLE ADMINISTRATION

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CALENDAR
April 12-14
Critical Commodities Conference- New Orleans

April 14
Good Friday- Port offices closed

April 16
Easter

April 18
Tax Day (Federal and State tax filing deadline)

April 22
Earth Day

April 25-27
April 26
Administrative Professionals' Day

May 1
May Day

May 5
Cinco de Mayo (Mexico)

May 6
Election Day (Local elections)

May 10
Mother's Day (Mexico)

May 14
Mother's Day (US)

May 14-16

May 20
Armed Forces Day

May 21-23

May 22
National Maritime Day

May 22-25

May 24-26

May 24-25

May 29
Memorial Day- Port offices closed
Sine Die - Last day of the 85th Texas Legislative Session

June 1
Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins

Texas LNG Selects Firms to Build Proposed Plant

Texas LNG contracted Samsung Engineering and KBR, Inc. to design and build its LNG export facility proposed at the Port of Brownsville.

Samsung Engineering and KBR will provide Texas LNG with pre-final investment decision (pre-FID) detailed engineering and post-final investment decision (post-FID) engineering, procurement and construction services for its proposed 4 million tons per year LNG export facility.
USS Independence Arrival Scheduled For May

The USS Independence is en route to the Port of Brownsville for dismantling and recycling.

International Shipbreaking Ltd., part of the EMR Group, won the Navy bid to recycle the 60,000-ton vessel, the last of the Forrestal-class of “supercarriers.”

The decommissioned aircraft carrier departed March 11 from Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, and is expected to arrive at the Port of Brownsville in May barring delays from weather or other factors.

This will be the third carrier delivered to ISL for dismantling. The company handled the decommissioned USS Constellation in January 2015 and the retired USS Ranger in July 2015.

The USS Independence is the fifth decommissioned supercarrier coming to the Port of Brownsville for scrapping. The first one was the USS Forrestal in 2014, dismantled by All Star Metals.
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