Port of Galveston

Port of Galveston
Location
Country United States
Location Galveston, Texas
Details
Opened 1825
Operated by Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees
Owned by City of Galveston
Type of harbor Natural
Piers 39
Employees 88[1]
Executive Director Michael J. Mierzwa
Statistics
Vessel arrivals 944 (2009)[2]
Annual cargo tonnage 9,791,907 short tons (8,883,069 t) (2009)[3]
Annual container volume 83,643 (2009)[4]
Value of cargo $680.359 million (2005)[3] $2,697
Passenger traffic 788,931 (2009)[2]
Annual revenue $23.25 million (2010)[5]
Net income $7.34 million (2010)[5]
Minimum depth 45 feet (14 m)[1]
Narrowest width 1,200 feet (370 m)
Website
http://www.portofgalveston.com

The Port of Galveston is the port of the city of Galveston, Texas. It was established by a proclamation issued by the Congress of Mexico on October 17, 1825, while the land known today as Texas was still part of Mexico. The Port of Galveston is the oldest port in the Gulf of Mexico west of New Orleans.[6]

History

During the late 19th century, up until the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the port was the busiest on the Gulf Coast and considered to be second busiest in the country, next to the port of New York City. The port exported most of the nation's cotton, along with large amounts of cattle, rice and other commodities. Galveston's wealth and great esteem was due in large part to the port's activity. The port was devastated by the 1900 Storm, and though it has since recovered, its status was quickly overtaken by the Port of Houston and other deep-water ports that were able to expand without restrictions due to geographic features.

Today

Cranes at the Port of Galveston container terminal

Located on the upper Texas coast on the eastern end of Galveston Island, it is 9.3 miles (15.0 km) from the open Gulf or approximately 30 minutes sailing time. The port is municipally owned by the City of Galveston and is managed by the Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves, as designated by the City Charter.

The port is equipped to handle all types of cargo including: containers, dry and liquid bulk, breakbulk, RO/RO, refrigerated and project cargoes. The Galveston Railroad, a terminal switching railroad, facilitates movement of cargo by rail.[7] In addition, the port is the year-round homeport to three Carnival Cruise Line vessels (Carnival Magic, Carnival Freedom and Carnival Triumph). They also have one Royal Caribbean vessel (Liberty of the Seas) sailing from the port year round

Disney Cruise Lines also now sails from the port to locations in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Disney operates Disney Wonder from the port during the fall and winter seasons. The Port of Galveston consists of the Galveston Ship Channel, the south side of Pelican Island, the north side of Galveston Island and the entrance to Galveston Bay. The Galveston Channel has an authorized minimum depth of 45 feet (14 m)[1] and is 1,200 feet (370 m) wide at its narrowest point.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bassett, Roland (2011-01-08). "Port of Galveston continues to grow". Galveston Daily News. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  2. 1 2 "Port of Galveston: Statistics". Port of Galveston. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  3. 1 2 "US Port Ranking by Cargo 2009" (PDF). US Army Corps of Engineers, Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  4. ↑ "North American Port Container Traffic 2009" (PDF). US Army Corps of Engineers, Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  5. 1 2 Staff (2011-01-25). "Port: 2010 Was a Big Year". Galveston Daily News. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  6. ↑ Handbook of Texas: Galveston Wharves
  7. ↑ Handbook of Texas: Galveston Railway
Port of Galveston- Galveston Wharves boxcar with CRANDIC markings on the CRANDIC at Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

External links

Coordinates: 29°18′18″N 94°48′36″W / 29.305°N 94.810°W / 29.305; -94.810

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