Vol. 7, No. 5 October 2022

The Port of Brownsville is open for business, witnessing the uninterrupted flow of commodities to service a wide range of industries across North America. The port continues to prove itself as one of the most stable seaports in the U.S. to effectively weather today's unique economic challenges.

Expanding Capabilities

Editor’s Note: This article is featured in the latest edition of the Port of Brownsville Directory. Click HERE to view directory or to request a copy.

After years of effort, planning and success, the Port of Brownsville is ready to begin one of its most important infrastructure projects to date, the Brazos Island Harbor (BIH) Channel Improvement Project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Congress have authorized the deepening of the port’s channel from 42 feet to 52 feet. The project may cost upwards of $300 million and construction, divided into two phases, is expected to commence at the end of 2022. Deepening the port’s channel means bigger ships, more cargo, and more jobs for the Rio Grande Valley.

The port expects to pay for the project with a combination of public, private and federal funds. Demonstrating confidence in the public-private partnership (P3) strategy, NextDecade, owner of the proposed Rio Grande LNG natural gas liquefaction plant (largest of the proposed LNGs at the port), announced a landmark agreement with the port in April 2019, agreeing to pay 100 percent of Phase One of the deepening project from the western boundary of its lease site along the ship channel to the channel’s offshore origin (more than nine miles) – or more than half of the deepening project.

In March 2022, the federal government announced the allocation of $68 million to the project.

The funds, to be utilized for Phase Two, are provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Appropriations Law. The BIH project was identified as part of the IIJA to strengthen port and waterway supply chains and climate resilience. Once the project is complete the Brownsville Ship Cannel will be one of the deepest ship channels in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Port of Brownsville has the capabilities and specialized equipment to handle project cargo like wind energy components.

Wind Energy Components Dominate Texas Port Project Cargo

Editor’s Note: This article is featured in the latest edition of the American Journal of Transportation.

Texas’ seaports enjoy a variety of project cargo. That’s a broad industry category. Along Texas’ Gulf Coast, though, there are a couple dominant trades.

Components for commercial wind turbines is the largest project cargo for ports in Brownsville and Galveston.

At the Port of Brownsville, the largest single project cargo category is components for commercial wind turbines, according to Eduardo A. Campirano, Port Director and CEO.

The huge white blades – which can be as long as 260 feet are the most conspicuous feature of the business. But Campirano indicates that all pieces of the massive structures pass through Brownsville. This involves tower and cone sections, which also are no small feat for logistics planning.

Motus Energy Expands Terminal Facilities

Motus Energy LLC announced Sept. 29 the completion of the first phase of the company’s expansion project at its T1 and T2 terminals located in the Port of Brownsville, Texas.

The company also executed multiple contracts with leading customers in the region, including independent and major energy corporations, in support of the expansion, which allows increased movement of commodities between the United States, Mexico and other international markets.

Phase one of the expansion project included the construction of eight new storage tanks with a total of 370,000 barrels of capacity, increasing total storage capacity at the facility to 890,000 barrels.

The project also included the expansion of unloading capacity to as many as 78 railcars per day, as well as the installation of four new automated loading racks with a high-efficiency vapor control system, increasing the daily loading rack throughput to nearly 90,000 barrels per day.

RGV Leaders Talk Transportation Policy

The Texas House Committee on Transportation held a field hearing on Sept. 8, at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley campus in Brownsville. Rio Grande Valley leaders were asked to weigh-in on transportation needs for the region.

Among the local leaders, Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano spoke about port's unique infrastructure needs.

"The actual infrastructure needs of a port start inside the gate. Cargo doesn't start at the gate, it starts at the dock," said Campirano.

Listen Now

Texas A&M RGV Advanced Manufacturing Hub Announces Agreements

The Texas A&M Advanced Manufacturing Hub TRAIN program commemorated its first year of service in the Rio Grande Valley with a special announcement hosted at the Port of Brownsville on Sept. 26.

The training program announced new memorandums of understanding with three local school districts, Brownsville Independent School District, Point Isabel School District, and Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District.

The program serves job-seekers who wish to pursue careers in manufacturing and provides training to employees of companies in the industry. To date, more than 3,500 certificates have been awarded in the areas of manufacturing, cyber security among others.

Port of Brownsville staff and tenants have already benefited from the program with valuable OSHA certifications and other trainings to increase workplace efficiency and safety.

BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS

Chairman

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