Vol. 7, No. 8 January 2023

In a year of highlights, the Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement project signing ceremony held July 6, 2022, shines brightly.

2022 Year in Review

Throughout 2022, the Port of Brownsville remained resilient and focused on its mission as the leading economic developer in the region through infrastructure expansions and business development to meet growing local and global demands.

Among notable accomplishments, the bellwether announcement was the historic Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement (BIH) project signing ceremony to establish the joint agreement between the Brownsville Navigation District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Phase 2 of the BIH project.

The agreement advances the project’s timeline to begin work on deepening the 17-mile-long ship channel from 42 feet to 52 feet, resulting in significant navigational safety improvements for commercial shipping in South Texas.

Exciting projects in progress and on the horizon at the Port of Brownsville provide a favorable outlook for a productive and transformative 2023.

Key Highlights

Revisit the highlights of 2022 with the images below and read more for a full summary of news at the port.

State of the Port

The annual State of the Port event revealed the port's performance in 2021. Record-breaking operating revenues for FY 2021 surpassed the $30 million mark for the second consecutive year at $34 million, while cargo tonnage amounted to 13.8 million tons, breaking a previous record of 11.6 million in 2020.

South Port Connector Road Opens

The Port of Brownsville held a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 4, for the Rio Grande Valley’s latest commerce route, the 1.9 mile-long South Port Connector Road. The new road officially opened to vehicular traffic on March 7.

Gov. Abbott Visits the Port

The month of March closed with an economic roundtable discussion led by Texas Governor Greg Abbott who highlighted the port as a key component of Texas' booming energy industry and as a critical asset to the Lone Star State's economic success.

USS Kitty Hawk Makes Final Voyage

On May 31, crowds gathered along the shoreline of South Padre Island to salute the arrival of the USS Kitty Hawk, the sixth US Navy Aircraft Carrier to arrive at the port for recycling. International Shipbreaking Ltd. won the Navy contract and responsibility to recycle the Kitty Hawk, representing the fourth carrier the company recycles.

Keppel AmFELS Delivers M/V George III

At the close of July, Pasha Hawaii, together with Keppel AmFELS announced the delivery of the M/V George III, the first liquefied natural gas powered vessel to fuel on the West Coast and the first to serve Hawaii.

The M/V George, is one of two Jones Act containerships built at the Port of Brownsville.

DIX Industries Earns Chairman's Award

DIX Industries was honored with the the 2022 Chairman’s Award by BND Chairman Esteban Guerra at the Port of Brownsville’s annual Customer Appreciation Luncheon on Dec. 14.

The company was recognized for its many achievements throughout its 75 years of operation.

NextDecade Announces Increase of ENN LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement

Editor's Note: This article is featured at www.nextdecade.com.

NextDecade announced Dec. 27, a volume increase of the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with ENN LNG Ltd. for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from NextDecade’s proposed Rio Grande LNG export project (RGLNG) at the Port of Brownsville.

Under the 20-year SPA, ENN will now purchase 2.0 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG. This is a 0.5 MTPA increase from the original 1.5 MTPA SPA announced earlier this year. All volumes of LNG are indexed to Henry Hub and will be supplied from the first three trains at RGLNG on a free-on-board basis.

Keppel AmFELS THSD Frederick Paup to Sport Schottel RudderPropellers

Editor's Note: This article is featured at www.marinelink.com.

Scheduled to enter operation in 2023, the largest U.S.-flagged, self propelled trailing suction hopper dredger (THSD) Frederick Paup is currently under construction at Keppel AmFELS' shipyard at the Port of Brownsville.

The THSD Frederick Paup will be propelled by a trio of Schottel RudderPropellers manufactured at the German Wismar production site.

The dredger will be 128 meters in length, have a 25 meter breadth and about 9 meter draught and will have a hopper volume of 11,500 sq. meters.

New Cargo Tonnage Record for Steel Shipment

The Port of Brownsville surpassed its previous cargo tonnage record on Dec. 27, with its latest shipment of steel slab originating from Sepetiba, Brazil.

In October, more than 67,000 metric tons of steel slab arrived at the port for delivery to Ternium's hot rolling mill in Pesqueria, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

The 74,000 metric tons of steel slab arrived in December aboard the MV ULTRA OCELOT also destined for Pesqueria, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

The Port of Brownsville's logistical advantage maintains its standing as the main gateway for steel into Mexico.

OmniTRAX and BRG Contribute $100,000 to Brownsville Community

OmniTRAX/Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway, LLC (BRG), on Dec. 14, announced the contribution of $100,000 to 11 Brownsville non-profit organizations.

As part of OmniTRAX's annual commitment to local communities, OmniTRAX and BRG collaborated with the Port of Brownsville to identify a broad collection of local nonprofit recipients that provide critical resources for the people of Brownsville.

"OmniTRAX is committed to the communities we serve, and we are proud to support the meaningful work happening each day within the Brownsville community," said OmniTRAX President and COO Sergio Sabatini.

"Part of being a good neighbor is working together and lending a helping hand. These donations expand the reach and impact of dedicated local organizations that are doing an exceptional job of serving our Brownsville neighbors," Sabatini added.