Houston Port's box tonnage rises 7pc from Jan-Nov

THE Port Authority of Houston saw container tonnage rise seven per cent in the first 11 months of 2010, with container revenue up 16 per cent compared to the same period in 2009.

However, November's performance continued the pattern of the past three months, with stronger steel numbers outshining container performance during the month, according to CEO Alec Dreyer, who was speaking at this month's port commission meeting.

The Port of Houston handled 219,000 tons of steel in November 2010, an increase of 128 per cent compared to the same month last year. "The last nine months of 2010 have been a game of catch-up for us, given the record levels of steel that moved through port authority facilities in the first three months of 2009," Mr Dreyer was quoted as saying in a report published on Globe Newswire.

"The port needs just 180,000 tons of steel in December to close the gap entirely and to have 2010 end up with an annual steel number above 2009," Mr Dreyer said. "The good news is that our mid-month projections show steel coming in around 190,000 tons for December."

He also said that ship arrivals at the port from January to November were up four per cent compared to the first 11 months of 2009. Ship arrivals were up 12 per cent at the turning basin and up seven per cent at container facilities. He also noted that barge traffic has shown significant growth all year and is up 17 per cent in November year-to-date.

During the meeting a professional services contract to study the recent economic impact of the Port of Houston was among several matters approved by the port commission.

The port commission has awarded John Martin Associates, LLC, a professional services contract worth up to US$90,000 to measure the Port of Houston's economic impact on the region, state and nation that will include interviews with firms providing services for the cargo and vessels handled at the public and private terminals along the Houston Ship Channel.

A two-year, $200,000 contract was awarded to Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan, Inc. (PBS&J) for professional stormwater consulting services. The firm will aid and advise the Port Authority Environmental Affairs Department on stormwater quality matters related to operations by the port authority, its tenants and other maritime industry users of port authority facilities.

Port commissioners also supported underwriting a proposed study by the Mickey Leland National Urban Air Toxics Research Centre with $100,000 of port authority funding. The study will measure air benefits from port authority emission reduction strategies.

Furthermore, the Cement Council of Texas presented the 2010 Portland Cement Association Sustainable Leadership Award to Jim McQueen, the port authority's chief construction manager. The award recognised an infrastructure project at Bayport that used roller-compacted concrete, a construction method that is said to provide benefits of speed and efficiency.
(Source:www.schednet.com)