Port Houston Blog

Twice a year, local Houston maritime stakeholders and various federal agency personnel come together to offer a two-day course on inland maritime and brownwater operations. Towing, barge, shipping captains, Coast Guard representatives and the Houston Pilots participate in an interactive seminar colloquially known as “Brownwater University” to improve communication between waterway operators and industry.

The Port Authority welcomed Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar to the Bayport Container Terminal Dec. 15 as part of his statewide visit of Texas maritime, inland and border ports.

Port Houston hosted its second Perishables Round Table Dec. 15 at the port’s Executive Building. The seminar gained interest back in September of 2016 when the port’s trade development team developed the framework for a new industry event featuring refrigerated cargo products and trends.

Jordan Frisby, Port Houston’s Economic Analyst, contributed to the Greater Houston Partnership’s (GHP) Metro Export Plan Forum event December 14 along with representatives from ACM Logistics and Consulting, Houston District Export Council, Houston Airport System, Commercial Service Houston and the University of Houston’s Small Business Development Center.

The Port of Houston Police Department presented 13 bikes to students at Yolanda Black Navarro Middle School, formerly known as Jackson Middle School, Dec. 12.  The school’s administrator, Vice Principal Michael Hutchins, will distribute the bikes to students with perfect attendance and distinguished achievements.

Port Houston held its quarterly TradeLink workshop Dec. 13 at the Conroe Regional Chamber of Commerce. The seminar was focused on Houston exports, introducing small and mid-sized regional businesses to the basics of exporting, including costs, risks, commercial transactions, finding overseas markets, trade financing, documentation and logistics.

The Houston Pilots, responsible for navigating some of the world’s largest ships on the Houston Ship Channel and into the Port of Houston, held their annual election Dec. 7. Captain Robert Shearon was re-elected to lead the organization as Presiding Officer in 2017. Members of the Executive Committee include Captain Sean Arbogast and Captain Matthew Glass.

Chairman of the Port Commission, Janiece Longoria was bestowed, by royal decree, the distinction of Commander of the Order of the Crown by HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium at the Port of Antwerp and Port Houston’s joint supply chain seminar December 8.. The theme of the seminar was “building the supply chain of the future.”