PORT HOUSTON SUMMER 2020 Houston Ship Channel Expansion – Project 11 A new chapter in our history Port Houston Plans Continued Environmental Leadership Growth in Latin America Strategy 2 | PORT HOUSTON NAVIGATOR | SUMMER | 2020 | 3 PORT HOUSTON SUMMER 2020 14 Feature Story: 05 Project 11 Gets From Executive Director Port Houston staying strong and Big Boost; Design involved in challenging times Process Moving Our latest expansion is closer to 08 getting started Environmental Leadership Strategy Our short- and long-term commitments to the environment 12 Trade Slows Some at Port 09 Houston and Other Ports as New Electric Vehicles Arrive Virus Outbreak Continues at Port Houston Container volumes are down, but 17 Saving money and reducing emissions we’re still here and working hard with new fleet Freight Moving Faster, Smoother on Peninsula Road $12.7 million project improves safety 18 and efficiency Port Houston Plans Continued Growth in Latin America 20 Growth in our region is leading to Did You Know? 10 sharp increases in trade Commissioner’s meeting goes virtual Shark About to Attack Waste in Houston Ship Channel 22 26 New litter-capturing drone aims to Manifest Small Biz Feature clean up floating litter Port Houston news and highlights Gullett and Associates 4 | PORT HOUSTON EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE OFFICE FIELD OFFICES 111 East Loop North, P.O. Box 2562, LATIN AMERICA Houston, TX 77252-2562 Phone: MOACYR PEDRO 713.670.2400 Port of Houston Authority Fax: Email: [email protected] 713.670.2429 Rue Barão do Triunfo 267 Apt. 133 – Brooklin 04602-000 São Paulo, Brazil Ric Campo Wendy Montoya Roger D. Guenther Phone: +55 11 99709 4545 Chairman Cloonan Executive Director Commissioner ASIA Thomas J. Heidt Chief Operating Officer MATTHEW SOLOMAN Port of Houston Authority Erik A. Eriksson c/o Ben Line Agencies Chief Legal Officer Email: [email protected] Phone: +60 3 7932 7066 John Moseley Mobile: +60 12 716 3524 Chief Commercial Officer Head Office Jeff Davis 200 Cantonment Road, #13-05 Southpoint, 089763 Singapore Dean E. Corgey Stephen H. DonCarlos Chief Port Operations Officer Commissioner Commissioner Phone: +65 6420 9013 Richard Byrnes Fax: +65 6224 0163 Chief Port Infrastructure Officer EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA Tim Finley Chief Financial Officer ANDERS FLENSBORG Port of Houston Authority Marcus Woodring Email: [email protected] Chief PSEO Officer Eisenbahnstrasse 34 D82110 Germering/Germany Charles Thompson Phone: +49 175 930 8811 Chief Information Officer Clyde Fitzgerald Roy D. Mease PORT HOUSTON NAVIGATOR’S Commissioner Commissioner Jessica Shaver EDITORIAL STAFF: Chief People Officer Christine Abbruscato, director marketing and Maxine Buckles branding; Bill Hensel, manager, external communications; Laci Theriot, digital content Chief Audit Officer marketing specialist; Drew Donovan, photographer; Chris Kuhlman, photographer; Adcetera, design Dylan Osborne and layout. This publication is not copyrighted, and permission is given for the reproduction or use Harris County Treasurer of any original materials, provided credit is given to Port Houston. Additional information, address changes, extra copies or advertising specifications may be obtained by writing to the Port Houston Navigator. The Port Houston Navigator is published For advertising opportunities, contact by Port Houston, P.O. Box 2562, Houston, Texas Cheryl D. Creuzot Bill Hensel at 713.670.2893 77252-2562, and is distributed free to maritime, Commissioner porthouston.com industrial and transportation interests in the United States and foreign countries. NAVIGATOR | SUMMER | 2020 | 5 From Roger’s Desk A message from Executive Director Roger Guenther The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect all our lives. We are communicating and working more quickly in our region than in extremely effectively in ways we never most parts of the country. We are CONTAINER VOLUME imagined just a few short months ago. thrilled that our Houston Ship Channel While our team members still work Expansion – Project 11 continues to 1% tirelessly every day, Port Houston has move forward because that is crucial to not been spared from the effects of safe and efficient movement of larger THROUGH MAY 2020 COVID-19. Cargo continues to move vessels now and in the future. Also, through our terminals, but business recently we were awarded a nearly through Port Houston facilities declined $80 million INFRA grant that will help in April and May and is below our us restore and improve wharf and yard CARGO VOLUME IN MAY original projections as a result of space at our Barbours Cut Container the pandemic. Terminal. This is possibly the largest 16% grant of its kind ever awarded to a port, General cargo through our public and we know that the enhancements BELOW LAST YEAR facilities is about 40 percent below will benefit our customers and users. last year’s pace, mainly due to the fact that import steel is moving at about half of what the volumes were in 2019. Meanwhile, containerized cargo volume in May was down about 16 percent versus the prior year. Despite this, our container volume was up by 1 percent year-to-date through May because of the great start we had during the first two months of this year. It’s impossible to speculate how long these trends will continue. What we are doing is continuing to plan for the future, because I am confident that our resilient economy, and the cargo exported and imported, will rebound 6 | PORT HOUSTON NAVIGATOR | SUMMER | 2020 | 7 Our Workforce I continue to be proud of the Port Houston team and everyone who is working to keep goods moving in our region. Although access to the Executive Office Building has been very limited since mid-March due to the pandemic, and many of our staff began telecommuting, two-thirds of our employees continue to report on-site to their essential jobs that keep commerce moving through our port. I am truly grateful for everyone’s dedication and effort. Our staff is our top priority. Over the past several months, we have established procedures to minimize the risk of spread of the virus through our workforce, which appear to have been successful. Practices like temperature screenings upon entry, social distancing, and good hand washing help keep our team members healthy, and we will continue to exercise these measures moving forward for the health and safety of one another. Social Justice and the Bigger Picture And above and beyond the challenges of a global coronavirus pandemic, we have faced the disturbing video and murder of George Floyd, which have elevated awareness and call for social justice around the world. It remains a lot to absorb and has heightened the fears and anxiety caused by numerous events, both recently and in the past, and has had a profound effect on many members of our port family. At Port Houston, diversity and inclusion are a key part of our strategic plan and will be necessary elements of our success moving forward. We have to stand together and act through meaningful conversations that are essential for a strong family. We must listen to one another and encourage open and honest dialogue. A recent internal employee roundtable discussion on diversity was a good start. At Port Houston, we intend to be proactive to further this healthy and important discussion. The conversation must continue to make progress, and I am committed to making progress. 8 | PORT HOUSTON SHORT-TERM Environmental GOALS Leadership • Tracking port-generated emissions per metric ton Strategy of cargo • Acquiring only new hybrid and electric rubber-tired A newly created Port Houston The plan states: As the steward of the gantry cranes Environmental Leadership Strategy Houston Ship Channel, Port Houston • Mandating no idling of focuses on short-term and long-term holds the key to being a good neighbor, vehicles at terminals with environmental targets and goals. It growing lean and green, and ensuring enforcement measures commits to making Port Houston a its assets are usable by the next being put in place recognized maritime industry leader in generation. environmental stewardship. • Tracking the diversion rate The mission adopted by the of waste The Environmental Leadership Environmental Affairs department is to: • Improved recycling and Strategy will assist in building Lead the maritime industry with world- waste minimization program stronger community and stakeholder class environmental performance. Its • Improved tracking of tenant relationships, as well as maintaining vision is to: Sustain the environment activities increased competitiveness with other and natural resources for the prosperity ports as Port Houston continues to of this generation and the next. move to cleaner, more streamlined, and more sustainable business practices. Other short-term goals include tracking port-generated emissions per metric LONG-TERM The Port Houston Environmental ton of cargo (already done), as well GOALS Affairs department expects the plan as striving to purchase only hybrid- vision also includes a to lead to an improved environmental electric rubber-tired gantry cranes. management system, cleaner air and Tracking the diversion rate of waste water, increased recycling, reduced is another short-term goal, along 90% waste, and better tracking of current with an improved recycling and waste reduction of greenhouse activities and their impacts. minimization program. gas pollution along with ZERO EMISSION ship docking LONGER-TERM GOALS as far out as 2040 Incentivizing the use of electric trucks using electric or hybrid cargo-handling equipment, zero waste, and If we are able to reach our goals, Port Houston will be a ensuring all port properties more efficient and effective organization, and an even better are decontaminated and usable. The long-term goals environmental steward. focus as far out as 2040, — Trae Camble matching Port Houston’s Director of Environmental Affairs proposed Comprehensive Long-Range Plan. NAVIGATOR | SUMMER | 2020 | 9 New Electric Vehicles Arrive at Port Houston Port Houston has acquired five electric It is estimated that carbon dioxide vehicles, a move that should help emissions can be reduced by 36 metric reduce air emissions.