Vol. 5, No. 6, November 2020 |
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Ranking among the top U.S. steel ports, the Port of Brownsville moves more steel into Mexico than any other domestic competitor. In 2019, the port moved 3.2 million short tons of steel across the southern border. |
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Mexican Steel Mill to Benefit Brownsville |
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally featured at www.brownsvilleherald.com. |
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A major steel mill expansion in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, is expected to have a big impact on the Port of Brownsville as a steel importer/exporter and boost job creation locally, according to port officials.
Port Director and CEO Eduardo Campirano said the multi-billion-dollar expansion of Monterrey’s Ternium Pesqueria mill, owned by Ternium S.A., the port’s largest steel customer and the biggest steel producer in Latin America, means more steel production at the mill.
More production requires more feedstock, which means more steel slab moving through the port — most of it from a Brazilian mill also owned by Ternium, he said. The Pesqueria mill largely supplies Mexico’s automobile manufacturing sector. Ternium is headquartered in Luxembourg.
"They ship slab through the Port of Brownsville," Campirano said. "So for us, the Pesqueria project is working in collaboration with the port, the stevedores and with (Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway) and other parties to expand the through-put capabilities of slab through the port."
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The Port of Brownsville was granted $14.5 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the expansion and upgrade of the port’s three-million-bushel grain elevator complex. |
US DOT Grants Port $14.5M Award |
The Port of Brownsville is reclaiming its status as a major exporter of agricultural products after receiving a $14.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to improve efficiency and safety of its grain storage and loading facilities.
The grant, deriving from the DOT Maritime Administration (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program, supports the development, expansion and upgrade of the port’s three-million-bushel grain elevator operated by WestPlains, LLC.
The project consists of fixed landside, rail, and road improvements, as well as related planning and other development activities. Once completed the improvements will create a new cost-efficient option for all grain producers from the Rio Grande Valley and other parts of Texas and the U.S. to export goods around the world via the Port of Brownsville.
"This grant demonstrates the federal government’s confidence in the Port of Brownsville and its commitment to support all industries across the Rio Grande Valley," said Brownsville Navigation District Chairman John Reed. "We are thankful for all the support received from Senator John Cornyn, Congressman Filemon Vela, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, our Texas state delegation, as well as Cameron County leadership and other local public officials and businesses. Their efforts were instrumental in accomplishing our goal to provide local farmers a direct access to worldwide markets."
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Port PD Chief Named Chair of State Task Force |
Port of Brownsville Chief of Police Carlos Garcia has been appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to serve on the Task Force on Disaster Issues Affecting Persons who are Elderly and Persons with Disabilities.
Garcia will act as chair of the task force that will study methods to more effectively accommodate persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities before, during, and after a disaster or emergency evacuation. His term is set to expire on Feb. 1, 2023.
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Denis J. Adams (left), director of operations and business development for Hamilton & CIA USA, and Ralph Cowen, Brownsville Navigation District secretary, celebrate the company's expansion at the Port of Brownsville. |
Hamilton & CIA USA Expands with New Port Office |
In October, Hamilton & CIA USA, LLC. opened new offices at the Port of Brownsville, to expand the company’s services to the region’s growing oil and gas industry.
Hamilton USA, a Transcoma Shipping Company, received its Steamship Agency Licenses at the Port of Brownsville in June and provides customs brokerage, freight forwarding and warehousing, engineering support, secured long-term and short-term covered and open storage, equipment preservation and other services for shippers.
With the tax advantages that exist by conducting business within the Port of Brownsville’s Foreign Trade Zone No. 62 one of the top three in the nation specializing in petroleum products, steel and metals – Hamilton USA’s Brownsville office is ideally situated to take advantage of "twin plant" cross-border operations.
The company offers expertise and experience with an established system link between United States and Mexican Customs, which facilitates and maximizes the throughput of cargo across the United States-Mexico border.
"The Port of Brownsville is a critical port for the offshore oil and gas industry and our expanded operations there will support a growing array of companies throughout the region," said Denis J. Adams, director of operations and business development for Hamilton & CIA USA. "With more than 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, Hamilton understands the operational needs of our clients and proudly supports all the major drilling companies and their third party service providers."
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The EMR – Capt. Berry is towed on its way to become a fish habitat near South Padre Island.
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ISL Partners with Friends of RGV Reef
to Create Fish Habitat
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Green ship recycler International Shipbreaking, LLC has partnered to assist non-profit Friends of RGV Reef to create a fish habitat offshore South Padre Island, Texas.
As a thank you for their support EMR, ISL's parent company, was asked to name the next vessel to be scuttled as an artificial reef.
The decision was made to name this vessel after ISL's Vice President, Captain Robert “Bob” Berry.
Captain Berry, who has 25 years of service to the company, has worked in the maritime industry for over 50 years as a master, salvage expert and leader at the Port of Brownsville ship recycling yard.
On Oct. 14, at high noon, the vessel was sunk to the bottom the Gulf where it will become artificial fish habitat.
RGV Reef is an innovative project specifically designed to create habitat for juvenile red snapper. Estimations state that the project will increase the red snapper population by between 60,000 and 240,000 in its first two years.
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BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
Secretary
Commissioner
Commissioner
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PORT OF BROWNSVILLE ADMINISTRATION
Port Director & CEO
Contact Us:
Ph: 956.831.4592 / 800.378.5395
Fax: 956.831.5006
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November 11
Veterans Day – Port offices closed
November 17
BND Board Meeting
November 26-27
Thanksgiving Day – Port offices closed
December 7
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
December 11
Hanukkah
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Bring Better Broadband to Brownsville |
The Port of Brownsville has joined the City of Brownsville and six other local organizations in a campaign focused on bringing high speed, reliable and affordable broadband access to Brownsville and the surrounding areas.
Residents and businesses in Brownsville, Los Fresnos and Rancho Viejo are encouraged to share experiences, opinions, and needs through an important community survey. Participation in the survey will help determine which areas of the community should be prioritized and which technology and infrastructure investments will make the most sense moving forward.
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Plitt Crane & Equipment Founder Dies |
Walter Plitt III was born Feb. 22, 1941, to Walter Edward Plitt, Jr. and Corinne Elizabeth Sweitzer in Houston, Texas and died Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020 at home surrounded by his family.
He died as humbly as he had lived, but his legacy speaks volumes about a man of committed service to his community.
Plitt was a visionary whose outstanding contributions set the foundation for thousands to benefit from his hard work and tenacity. He secured grants exceeding $1.5 million that not only preserved history but created it.
Plitt graduated high school from Brownsville's St. Joseph's Academy, then took a degree from Southwestern Business College in Houston. Locally, he was Founder and President of Plitt Crane & Equipment; Plitt Management Co.; International Rigging Services, and Partner in Plitt Leasing Co.
Walter applied his innate strategic vision and drive for the long-term benefit of the Brownsville area and its citizens. He helped to create and maintain a number of major local cultural institutions: First Director/Curator and Developer of the Commemorative (Confederate) Air Force Museum, Director of Historic Brownsville Museum and member of the Historical Association, Chairman of Palo Alto Battlefield National Park Committee, Gold Founding Member, President's Associates for The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. He was Past Chairman of Port of Brownsville International Trade & Lessee Committee, Past President of Kiwanis Club, Toastmasters, Jaycees, and Valley Sportsmen Club.
He actively worked for young people through Boy Scouts (director), Boys Club (director), and brought the Eddie Eagle Program to Brownsville which promotes gun and hunter safety for youth.
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