On Tuesday, December 10, the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority held its final meeting of the year. Chairman Ric Campo opened the session by expressing gratitude and reflecting on the successful year of 2024. He extended his heartfelt thanks to Port Houston employees, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), seafarers, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Houston Pilots, and the over 200 private terminals along the Houston Ship Channel. Reflecting on community involvement, Chairman Campo celebrated the third annual Community Resource Fair, held by Port Houston on December 7. The event drew 3,000 attendees and featured nearly 60 partners offering services in healthcare, workforce development, and food distribution. “This has become one of the year’s highlights for us and something we’re truly proud of,” said Campo. The fair also included performances from local students, such as the Channelview High School mariachi band.
Updates on Project 11 and 2024 Operations & Sustainability
Chairman Campo provided an update on the expansion of the Houston Ship Channel, known as Project 11. Segment 1B dredging was recently completed, with final reviews underway by Port Houston and the USACE. Once final acceptance occurs (expected by January 2025), the Houston Pilots will be able to safely navigate two-way traffic along the newly-widened Galveston Bay channel and Bayport Ship Channel.
“This milestone brings significant benefits to our region, enabling safer navigation along the busiest waterway in the nation and more efficient vessel movements through significantly reduced daylight restrictions,” said Campo. Dredging of Segment 1C continues and is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2025. With all Port Houston-led Project 11 procurement efforts now finished, remaining work will be designed, procured, and managed by the USACE, with ongoing support from Port Houston.
In his report, Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins emphasized that no draft restrictions had impacted the channel in the past year, expressing appreciation for the USACE’s dedicated work on maintaining the channel. “This achievement is especially noteworthy given the operational challenges we faced this year, including Hurricane Beryl and the brief ILA strike in October,” said Jenkins, underscoring the continued importance of the Houston Ship Channel as the nation’s top waterway in terms of vessels and volume. “We’ve worked hard to ensure the channel remains safe and efficient for all of Houston’s ports,” he added.
Jenkins also highlighted the strong cargo volumes through public terminals, projecting that this year’s total cargo will exceed 2023 figures, both in containers and total tonnage. Container volumes saw a significant rebound in November after a softer October. Barbours Cut and Bayport terminals were up by 9% for the year in total twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEU), with strong growth in both import and export loads. Container volume is on track to surpass four million TEU for the year. Steel tonnage also saw a 37% increase over October, reflecting positive year-over-year growth of 1%.
Port Houston also announced a significant milestone in its commitment to supporting small, minority, and women-owned businesses. Since the launch of its small business program in 2002, the port has awarded over $1 billion in contracts to these businesses, underscoring Port Houston’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth within its supply chain and the wider business community.
In 2024, Port Houston secured six federal and state grants, totaling more than $57 million, to support initiatives that enhance port infrastructure, cybersecurity, the environment, and surrounding communities. Notably, a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) will improve grain export infrastructure, boost air quality, and serve as the first step toward enhancing nearby stormwater drainage systems.