September 2015 Port Bureau News by Greater Houston Port Bureau

Port Bureau September 2015

Greater Houston Port Bureau Waterborne Foreign Trade Statistics: First Half of 2015

News

A Look Back at the 86th Annual Maritime Dinner Honoring ExxonMobil

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Port Bureau

News

Publisher/President CAPT Bill Diehl, USCG (Ret.), P.E. Editor Christine Schlenker Copy Editors Christine Schlenker Judith Schultz

3 Captainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner Thank You

4 Port Watch

Barges, Barges Everywhere

6 Port Bureau Updates

10 Forecasting

Marine Fog on the Houston Ship Channel

22 Iconic Fred

Hartman Bridge Turns 20 24 Waterborne Foreign Trade Statistics: First Half of 2015 30 A Look Back at the 86th Annual Maritime Dinner Honoring ExxonMobil

Guest Article from StormGeo, Inc

14 Free Trade

the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and The Trans-Pacific Partnership

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Writers Kolin Beam Kyle Beam Christine Schlenker Judith Schultz Photographer Kyle Beam Port Bureau Staff Jeannie Angeli Dave Cooley Al Cusick Megan Essenmacher Cristina Gomez Bridget McGee Janette Molina Elizabeth Sandefur Patrick Seeba Printing Company DiPuma Printing and Promotional Products www.dipuma.com

Agreements: What are

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Art Director Kyle Beam

For information about the Port Bureau: Phone: (713) 678-4300 Email: info@txgulf.org For information about the Port Bureau News stories or advertising: Email: editor@txgulf.org

Captain's Corner Thank You

I’d like to take my column this month to say a special thank you to our many supporters who made the Port Bureau’s 86th Annual Maritime Dinner another huge success. Nearly 800 attendees attended the Dinner, which was a fabulous evening of business and pleasure from start to finish. The cocktail reception found us visiting with old colleagues makingnew friends. As usual, the silent auction was fun and brought out a little of the friendly competition we enjoy seeing between our members – the Ireland adventure trip sponsored by Schröder Marine Services and the Houston Pilots’ Sunset Cruise for 16 were popular bidding items. Guests posed at the photo booth, the meal was delicious, and ExxonMobil received deserving recognition for its support of community and commerce along Houston’s busy waterway. That sense of community is something I think makes the Houston Ship Channel – from the public facilities at the Turning Basin to the cruise terminal in Galveston – a special place to live and work. Although we joined together on the 22nd to recognize a single company, this community comes together every month, every week, every day to make our region successful. The 200+

companies that make up the Port Bureau employ tens of thousands of employees and are responsible for billions of dollars in business every year. The Port Bureau’s Board of Directors is as diverse a group as exists on our waterfront – from bluewater to brownwater, attorneys to engineers. I would like to recognize their hard work not only in giving us direction and supporting the organization, but specifically for their work at the dinner. Our Dinner Committee, chaired by April Bailey from Amegy Bank and embellished through the artistic talents of interior designer Teresa Thompson, owner of The Inside Affair Design, also includes Charles Flournoy from Wortham Insurance, Dennis Hansell from Suderman & Young Towing, John Taylor from Houston Mooring Company, Karl Schröder from Schröder Marine Services, Captain Mike Morris from the Houston Pilots, Steve Stewart from Gulf Winds International, Tom Marian from Buffalo Marine, and Vinny Pilegge from Manchester Terminal. These men and women are responsible for the evening of fellowship that so many of you enjoyed. Our community comes together in more places than just the Port Bureau. When I look at my calendar for the

CAPT Bill Diehl, USCG (Ret.), P.E. month, I see a multitude of gatherings that speak to the various facets of our business. At the Area Maritime Security Committee and Houston Ship Channel Security District, professionals meet to ensure we have a secure port where customers can feel safe making long-term decisions. At the Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee, representatives from a broad section of industry and the community raise issues of mutual concern, recognize outstanding achievement, and look to the future with an eye for growth. At the Central Texas Area Committee, environmental stewardship is the focus of our discussion, as we ensure that our ports have a positive impact on the communities and ecosystems in which we live and work. To bring things back around to our dinner, I just want to say when I had a brief moment to look upon the assembled crowd and think about port region business, my heart swelled with gratitude to be a part of such a forward-thinking and appreciative partnership. A group is only as strong and successful in achieving goals as the people who support it. The Greater Houston Port Bureau’s 86th Annual Maritime Dinner – celebrating the spirit of cooperation for planning, progress, and prosperity that makes our port region an exceptional place to do business – was a record success because you supported it.

Thank you!!! ò

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PORT WATCH Barges, Barges Everywhere Tom Marian, Buffalo Marine Service

You see them everywhere: pushed up on secluded stretches of the Intracoastal Waterway; hunkered down on the banks of the Old River; strung out on mooring buoys along the Bolivar Peninsula. Wherever there is enough water to push in a barge or accommodate a tow, the brownwater work horses are sure to be found in Port Arthur, Houston, Corpus Christi, and all points in between. To drive this point home, the July tow numbers passing through the Houston Ship Channel reached a record high for the decade with nearly 12,500 movements. This was a 5% increase over June’s monthly tally and nearly 11% higher than 2014’s year-todate count. Undoubtedly, it was an extremely impressive mid-summer rally underscoring the role tows play in transporting various commodities – mostly liquid – within the immense inland waterway system of the region. July was also rather positive for the bluewater trade picture for Texas ports. The summer vessel-arrival dip was held in abeyance as more vessels called upon the

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Lone Star State, which nudged up the 2015 numbers above those of 2014 by almost 3%. As is typically the case, not all ports logged gains for the month, but the two that did not – Sabine and Texas City – were a mere 2% off the previous month’s totals. The Port of Sabine remains 4% above 2014’s year-todate arrival figures; however, Texas City is still off 2.5% as compared to last year.

Percentage-wise, the Port of Brownsville had no equal this month with an impressive 45% gain which, in turn, juiced up its 2015 vessel arrival year-to-date count by 21.5%. One hundred forty miles east on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW), the Port of Corpus Christi greeted 11% more ships for the month and remains just shy of 4% above 2014’s arrival numbers. The performance of these two particular ports is

Texas Ports Deep Draft Vessel Arrivals July 2015 Year-to-Date Percent Change

port watch

Port of Houston Deep Draft Vessel Arrivals 2000

July 2015 vs. July 2014

1500

Jul. 2015 YTD (Total: 4,963)

1000

Jul. 2014 YTD (Total: 4,801)

500

somewhat heartening given the rather soft rig count in the Eagle Ford and Permian shale gas fields. In essence, the positive trade environment reflects lower production costs of preexisting wells and increasing well yields. Nevertheless, the prospect of $30/ barrel oil can substantially erode the volume of commerce flowing in and out of this area. Continuing north and east along the GIWW, Port Freeport had a strong July with 9.5% more arrivals than in June. Unfortunately, Freeport continues to lose ground against its solid performance in 2014 given that it is over 14% below that number through July 2015. Meanwhile, a short stretch of waterway to the east, the Port of Galveston eked out a small monthly gain of 3% after a rather dramatic vesselarrival plunge in June. The port remains more than 9% above 2014’s arrival statistics. While Houston cannot boast about similar year-to-date percentage increases as those of Galveston, the port’s vessel count remained above 700 in July and closed out the month with a respectable 2% uptick. More

importantly, its year-to-date performance remains somewhat solidly in the black with 3.4% greater vessel arrivals. On the vessel-category front, the vast majority of vessel types enjoyed noteworthy monthly gains. Not to be outdone by its brownwater brethren, oceangoing barges had their second-best month of the year with a 19.4% jump; albeit, this category remains off by 7% for the year reflecting a change in coastwise crude oil trading patterns. While bulkers are also down against 2014’s numbers by more than 8%, July rebounded by 13%. Yet, there appears to be a marked drop in the movement of low value-high tonnage bulk cargoes. General cargo was also down for the month and on a year-to-date basis; specifically, 11% and 7%, respectively. This is yet another indication of the decreased demand of project-related cargoes bound for the shale gas fields and related activities. LPG fared the best of the energy-related ship types. Its 10% monthly climb further bolstered its lead over 2014’s vessel arrival churn which currently stands

at 23%. Likewise, 2015’s chemical tanker count stands 20% above that of 2014, even though there was no count gain over the last month. Tankers were also flat for the month and remain so for the year – thus far. Finally, container vessel arrivals are relatively flat for the year but this vessel type was pulled out of negative territory by July’s 6% rise from June. Again, the raw container count remains well above that of 2014 due to the reality of larger vessels transporting a greater number of containers into the port. In sum, July was a welcome respite from the blues of summer which typically end on a low note when the August numbers are tallied. Nonetheless, the August vessel tea leaves do not bode very well. Preliminary indications are that inventory on the waterfront is being turned at a much slower rate, ship calls are particularly slow, and the fleets of barges that dot the waterways are growing due to less activity rather than more.

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port bureau updates

Greater Houston Coffee Association Coffee roaster and entrepreneur, Ragan Bond, founder of Independence Coffee Company in Brenham, Texas, is the featured speaker at the Greater Houston Coffee Association’s Annual Luncheon. Hosted in conjunction with the Port Bureau, the luncheon will be Wednesday, October 7, 2015, at Brady’s Landing. Ragan and his wife, Christi, began small-batch roasting coffee in 2002, producing 2,000 pounds of experimental roasts. They gave away 1,800 pounds to friends and others willing “to take the chance” with a very ‘green’ product and company. They drank the rest! By 2011, they were roasting over 150,000 pounds of high grown Arabica coffees from 13 different producing countries and growing regions. Today, they roast for friends as well as a client list that runs the gamut from bed and breakfasts to large grocery markets, such as H.E.B. and Whole Foods Market. The Houston region is home to more than 50 coffee-related companies and more than 160 companies operatate in Texas. With over one-third of the market, the Port of Houston is the only certified coffee exchange port west of the Mississippi River. Thank you to our current sponsors ACM Logistics & Consulting, Inc., Cadeco Industries, Dupuy Storage Houston, Gulf Winds International, Houston Pilots, and West Gulf Maritime Association. Sponsor a table or reserve your spot today by calling the Port Bureau at (713) 678-4300 or visiting www.txgulf.org/commerceclub.php.

Port Bureau Upcoming Events Captain’s Cup Golf Tournament Presented by BB&T

Hole sponsorships are available for the Port Bureau’s popular Captain’s Cup Golf Tournament Presented by BB&T! The 4-Man Shamble competition is slated for the members-only BraeBurn Country Club, offering numerous elevation changes and traditional parkland features with a classic 1930s feel, on Monday, November 2, 2015. Team registration and premium sponsorships are sold out, but hole sponsorships allow your company the opportunity to demonstrate your dedication to the Houston maritime community at the Captain’s Cup Golf Tournament. Don’t miss this excellent marketing opportunity. Call Kyle Beam at (713) 678-4300 or email golf-info@txgulf. org today.

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Certified Port Executive Program™, November 2-6, 2015

Take part in specialized port and terminal management training from the Certified Port Executive Program™ (CPE) and hosted by the Greater Houston Port Bureau. This five-day training program enhances your management skills and offers you and your organization a competitive edge. Training is suited to several levels of management, including staff in terminal management, shipping agents, military personnel, and government officials. The CPE program comprises 17 learning modules to equip attendees with new skills and real-world port knowledge. See the ad on page 9 or visit www.certifiedportexecutive.com.

December Commerce Club

Salute the career of Captain Mike Morris with the Port Bureau in December as he steps down as Presiding Office of the Houston Pilots in preparation for retiring in the spring of 2016. The Port Bureau plans a special Commerce Club on December 10, at Brady’s Landing, to celebrate Captain Morris’ 41 years in the maritime industry, including 21 years as a Houston Pilot and over 20 years with Exxon, 13 of which he was a Master. In 2005, he was the Port Bureau’s Maritime Person of the Year. Captain Morris will share his reflections and best sea stories from his long and successful maritime career. Join our Premier sponsors the Houston Pilots and our table sponsors Blades International, Buffalo Marine Service, Inc., Houston Mooring Co., Moran Gulf Shipping Agencies, Richardson Companies, Schröder Marine Services, Inc., Shell (US) Trading Company, Suderman & Young Towing, and West Gulf Maritime Association.

Texas Gulf Coast Gateway to the Midwest, Southwest and the Greater Galveston/Houston Region

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P.O. Box 328 • Galveston, TX 77553 Phone 409-766-6112 • Fax 409-766-6171 Website: www.portofgalveston.com Contact: Capt. John G. Peterlin III Sr. Director of Marketing & Administration Email: jpeterlin@portofgalveston.com

Imported wind turbine towers departing the port by rail

port bureau updates

Port Bureau Member News US Coast Guard Marine Casualty Reporting Publication by Blank Rome LLP Blank Rome has written the advisory, “U.S. Coast Guard Marine Casualty Reporting Guidance Finalized”, to update readers on select developments regarding the guidelines for marine casualty reporting released on July 20, 2015, by the U.S. Coast Guard. The informative, two-page publication PDF is available for reading or download at http://www.blankrome.com.

Kinder Morgan Expands Tanker Fleet

Kinder Morgan announced on August 10, 2015, it is expanding its growing fleet of Jones Act product tankers and has signed a definitive agreement valued at an all-in price of $568 million with Philly Tankers LLC to take assignment of contracts for the construction of four, new 50,000-deadweight-ton, Tier II tankers to be constructed at the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These four new vessels will increase Kinder Morgan’s Jones Act tanker fleet to 16 ships by late 2017.

ABS Drives Game-Changing Technology Through Academic Research

ABS, a leading provider of maritime and offshore classification services, held its University Partnership Symposium in Houston in August 2015. The Symposium brought together academia and industry in a forum at which top U.S. universities presented the results of ABS-funded research initiatives. Open discussion during this event allowed both academic and industry participants to provide input that will be used to refine ABS research efforts. The research highlighted at the Symposium is among the many projects that will function as building blocks for the Class of the Future, which will be more conditionbased, more risk-based and more continuous. Through events like the recent symposium, ABS regularly convenes industry and academia to discuss key areas that will benefit industry and spur innovation. Read more press releases from our members at: www.txgulf.org/pressrelease.php.

The 7th Annual Captain’s Cup Golf Tournament PRESENTED BY

November 2, 2015 | BraeBurn Country Club

DINNER SPONSOR

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LUNCH SPONSOR

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CLOSEST TO THE PIN

HOLE-IN-ONE PRACTICE RANGE

Alpha Mar IMW Amegy Bank Berard Transportation Citibank CLM Towing Coating Systems

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PUTTING GREEN

HOLE SPONSORS

Danner’s Inc. ExxonMobil Frost Bank Houston Mooring Co. Houston Pilots Laborde Products

Manchester Terminal Port of Houston Authority Port Terminal Railroad Association Rio Marine, Inc. Texas Mooring Toucan Transportation

Partners with the Greater Houston Port Bureau

Port & Terminal Management Training Houston, November 2nd – 6th, 2015 Hosted at the Greater Houston Port Bureau

THE PROGRAM THAT BENEFITS YOU ALSO BENEFITS YOUR WHOLE ORGANIZATION 17 Learning modules over 5 days

Take part in this 5 day training program that will enhance your management skills and give you and your organization a competitive edge WHAT DO YOU LEAVE WITH? • Enhanced management skills to bring back to your terminals, ports or maritime operations. • Real world knowledge of port and terminal operation and management • Tools and knowledge to be able to advance in your organization • Interconnectedness with a global network of port management professionals • Knowledge about the five key areas affecting port management today

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? • Port authority directors and executives • Terminal Managers • Port stakeholders including municipal, provincial and federal government officials • Shipping company agents • International transportation companies • Importers and exporters • Dockyard, navy, and military personnel • Coast guard officials • Intermodal, global and marine organizations

Being CPE Certified Starts here! Visit our NEW Website CertifiedPortExecutive.com

Forecasting Marine Fog on the Houston Ship Channel By: Andrew Hagen, StormGeo, Inc.

Photo by Lou Vest

Marine fog The Houston Ship Channel is one of the busiest seaports in the United States, with a constant flow of ocean-going vessels and inland barge traffic. During winter months, traffic on the Houston Ship Channel is occasionally disrupted by what meteorologists refer to as “marine advection fog,” or simply “marine fog.” Marine fog forms when warm, moist air from the southern Gulf of Mexico flows over the cooler near-shore water. This occurs primarily from late fall through early spring. At times, the fog becomes thick enough to halt traffic on the ship channel. Closures of the ship channel can last anywhere from a few hours to four or five days. These closures can have a significant impact on business and industry along the channel. Fog Climatology The fog season typically runs from mid-November through late March or early April. Over the past eight fog seasons, the Houston Ship Channel has been closed due to low visibility from marine fog for an average of 350 hours each season. The three foggiest months are December through February. However, during the 2014-15 fog season, March was the month with the most major (long-duration) fog closures on the Houston Ship Channel (see Figure 1).

We define a major fog event as one that causes the Houston Ship Channel to close for 24 or more consecutive hours. A significant fog event closes the ship channel for 12 to 24 hours. A minor fog event lasts for less than 12 hours. On average, there are five major fog events every winter. However, there are numerous additional significant and shorter closures to the Houston Ship Channel, as seen in Figure 1. Meteorological Ingredients for Fog Formation There are several meteorological ingredients necessary for the formation of dense marine fog. The most important requirement is that the water temperatures near shore and across the ship channel are significantly cooler than the water in the middle to southern Gulf of Mexico. Water temperatures across the ship channel begin falling in late September or early Octoberonce the first significant cold fronts move out across the Gulf of Mexico. The lowest temperatures are typically seen in January and February, when water temperatures occasionally dip down into the middle to upper 40s (see Figure 2). We have found that marine fog is typically not much of a problem until the water temperatures drop below 70°F, though

Figure 1. Houston Ship Channel closures (hours) due to low visibility from marine fog during the 2014-15 fog season. A partial closure (yellow bars) occurs when ship traffic is halted in only one direction.

water temperature below 65°F is much more problematic. This generally occurs from midto-late November through March. While it is possible to have a few short-duration marine fog closures with water temperatures warmer than 65°F, no significant disruptions to industry and commerce would be likely. Long duration fog events (24 hours or more) are far more likely once the water temperatures drop into the 50s or colder. While cold water is necessary for fog formation, it’s not the only factor. The second important ingredient is the flow of warm, moist air from the middle to southern Gulf of Mexico, where water temperatures are generally much warmer. When this deep southerly flow carries warm, moist low-level air over the cold coastal waters, dense marine fog is possible (see Figure 3). This is the most common meteorological set-up for long-lasting ship channel closures due to marine fog. As long as the deep flow of warm, moist air continues, the fog will persist. Typically, the fog only disperses after the next cold front moves offshore. Dense marine fog can also form north of a warm front. Even though the ship channel may be in the cold airmass, warm air overriding the warm front boundary south of Galveston can cause an overcast cloud deck to sink down to the surface, creating widespread marine fog. During the 201415 fog season, the warm front type fog was responsible for most of the 12 to 24-hour ship channel closures. Forecasting Marine Fog Most meteorologists who have experience with fog forecasting will typically say that fog is the most difficult type of weather to forecast. There are many reasons why this is true. Marine fog doesn’t always form when there is cold water and moist low-level air or a warm front. Other factors, such as wind speed and direction, low-level stability, tides, and river/bayou runoff, play critical roles in where and when fog will form. Many of these variables can usually be predicted fairly accurately out to five days

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marine fog

Figure 2. Houston Ship Channel temperatures for the past nine marine fog seasons. The 2014-2015 season is in blue. in advance. However, even if these variables are well-forecast, it does not mean that the fog forecast will be perfect. Often, localized changes in tides or wind direction can make the difference between large patches of dense fog that cover most of the channel versus just a few small patches of fog that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cause major disruptions. Forecasters can use real-time buoy data to assist in monitoring localized changes in water temperature, wind speed and direction, tides, visibility, temperature, and moisture levels. Monitoring these buoys as well as other surface observations and any available webcams in the area can assist forecasters with short-range fog forecasts (out to six hours). However, the water temperature data from the buoys assists forecasters tremendously with the three to five day forecasts. Water temperatures within the ship channel can vary significantly over short distances. There are only a few buoys in the Houston Ship Channel and none in Galveston Bay. Additional buoys, particularly across Galveston Bay, could help forecasters to better understand the

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fog formation process in the wide-open Galveston Bay section of the channel. This would also help fine-tune future fog forecasts. Water temperatures in the southern and central Gulf of Mexico are also important. Meteorologists use buoys and satellite data to monitor these temperatures as well. If the water temperatures in the southern to central Gulf of Mexico are significantly

warmer than the water temperatures along the coast and within the Houston Ship Channel, then a deep, southerly flow will very likely produce more widespread fog along the upper Texas coast. On the other hand, if water temperatures in the southern to central Gulf of Mexico are only slightly warmer than the water temperatures on the coast, then fog formation in the Houston Ship Channel is less likely. At the very least,

THE HOUSTON PILOTS Silent Servants of Progress

www.houston-pilots.com

marine fog

Figure 3. European Model forecast of 2-meter dew point temperatures (shaded) and wind (barbs) initialized on February 10, 2014, valid for February 17, 2014. a smaller temperature difference would delay the onset of marine fog during periods of deep onshore flow. Another critical part of the fog forecast is predicting when the fog will dissipate. Marine fog doesn’t develop at night and “burn-off ” during the daytime. Marine fog will remain in place as long as warm, moist air continues to flow across the cooler nearshore water. Marine fog dissipation requires an airmass change in most cases. Therefore, predicting when the fog will dissipate

typically comes down to determining when the next cold front will move off the Texas coast. Fortunately, cold front passages are usually easy to predict three to five days in advance. That means predicting precisely when the marine fog will dissipate is generally much easier than predicting its onset time. Summary While predicting the onset and dissipation of marine fog can be quite challenging for most meteorologists, it is

Port of Houston Authority

Houston: America’s Distribution Center www.portof houston.com/map

possible to predict major fog events (lasting 24 hours or more) as far as five days in advance. The key to a successful forecast is the use of high-resolution computer models of the lower atmosphere in combination with close monitoring of water temperatures from in-channel, near-shore, and deepwater ocean buoys. Knowing the current conditions across the Ship Channel is very important for a short-term or same-day forecast. The more data, the better. More data buoys along the channel, particularly across Galveston Bay would be a great help for more definitive forecasts. About StormGeo, Inc.: StormGeo is one of the world’s largest commercial weather service providers, serving a worldwide customer base with advanced solutions through its global 24/7 forecasting desks and R&D team. The company’s main operations are in the Offshore, Onshore, Renewable Energy, Aviation, Corporate Enterprise, Shipping and Media industries. Contact the author at: Andrew.Hagen@ stormgeo.com

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Free Trade Agreements: What are the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the Trans-Pacific Partnership By Kolin Beam, GHPB

The United States has been involved in talks regarding two major free trade agreements over the past several years: the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the European Union and the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) with eleven countries from Asia, South America, and North America. The countries that make up these two trade agreements comprise a large portion of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gross domestic product (GDP). Proponents claim that these agreements will boost economic growth for the U.S. and participating countries and that they are necessary to continue thriving in the 21st century global economy. Opponents are concerned with the lack of transparency surrounding the negotiations and potential negative impacts on domestic jobs and regulation standards. This discussion is designed to provide insight into both points of view; the Port Bureau Board of Directors does not have an official policy stance on these trade agreements.

trade agreement What is a Free Trade Agreement? Free trade agreements are negotiated between countries to open up their markets to foreign trade and contracts, often leading to economic growth through greater wealth and job creation. Most previouslynegotiated trade agreements that include the U.S. involve removing the tariffs on all commodities, protecting American investors and patents, and equalizing standards of law among the trade agreement countries. The primary goal behind free trade is to make it easier and cheaper for residents and companies of participating countries to import and export both consumer and nonconsumer goods. The United States is involved in fourteen different free trade agreements with twenty different countries. One of the most notable, as well as the first, of these agreements is the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) established in 1993. According to a report by Denise Froning of the Heritage Foundation, by 2000 the U.S. economy experienced a 23% increase, GDP increased by $2.1 trillion, and the average consumer income increased by $5,500. The U.S. State Department estimates show a 200% increase in Canada and a 443% increase in Mexico of exported goods, and a 199% increase from Canada and a 603% increase from Mexico of imported goods from 1993 to 2014. The TTIP The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) under negotiation is between the United States and the twentyeight countries of the European Union. Negotiations began on June 18, 2013, in Washington, D.C. In 2014, America produced $17.46 trillion and the EU produced $17.61 trillion GDP. Combined, the two entities make up approximately 33% of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GDP and 30% of world trade. If successfully negotiated, this will be the largest trade agreement in history. Pros The primary purposes of the TTIP are to remove tariffs and non-tariff barriers on all products moving between the two

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entities and to increase foreign investments on both sides. Tariffs only represent an average 4% cost on goods, so their removal would not have a large impact on the economy. The more significant objective of the TTIP is to remove non-tariff barriers,

such as genetically altered food regulations and geographic indicators. By removing these barriers, the U.S. will be able to ship genetically altered consumables, like crops affected by growth hormones, and products marked with specific geographic indicators,

trade agreement like parmesan cheese or Bordeaux wine. Another important intent of the TTIP that could possibly have a greater impact on the economy is the encouragement of foreign direct investments in companies. Through 2013, cumulative foreign investment from

the EU was shown to have contributed $1.685 trillion dollars, or 61% of foreign investment to America. Faegre Baker Daniels estimated in 2013 that $600 billion dollars would be gained in the deal, and a total of 2 million

jobs would be created. In the agribusiness industry, every one billion additional dollars spent on exports creates 9,000 new jobs. The elimination of barriers on genetically altered food would significantly increase America’s ability to export consumables to European countries. Cons On the other side of the scale, the downsides to TTIP include some risk to several American companies. One of the stipulations of the EU is to eliminate the “Buy America” clause – a provision enacted under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This clause requires the U.S. government to prioritize At Gulf Winds, our business is always about American business bids over foreign bids causing some European companies to lose out on deals. By ending the “Buy America” clause, American companies could suffer by adjusting their bids to compete with EU companies. In addition to government bids, U.S. companies could face a general increase in competition from European companies. This is a common occurrence in free trade agreements due to the newfound ease of foreign companies to compete in the domestic market. If a European country is more efficient or can sell a product for a cheaper price, then the American company loses out, resulting in American job loss. The industry that has the potential to be affected the most by this deal is the energy industry. The U.S. currently has a distinct advantage in the energy industry compared to the rest of the world because of its abundance of resources and efficiency in extracting those resources. Previously, By partnering with Gulf Winds, your dollar goes to more than just moving petroleum resources were fairly restricted freight. Gulf Winds continually partners with ICM (International Cooperating from Europe, causing their gas prices Ministries) to build churches and orphanages all over the world. We believe to be as much as four times higher than our company’s mission shouldn’t just be reserved for office walls. America. However, this agreement offers Europe greater access to U.S. oil, which Our mission is to glorify God by providing world class logistics services could raise gas prices in the U.S. and level through continual investment in our people, clients, community and the the petroleum playing field with the EU. world we live in. The TPP The Trans-Pacific Partnership free www.gwii.com | 866.238.4909 trade agreement involves 12 countries with

MORE THAN THE MOVE

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trade agreement Manufactured products are a major export to the TPP region for the U.S., China, and India. China and India already have established trade agreements in the area that exempt them from the high tariffs; the U.S. has not. For example, a 70% tariff is imposed on automotive products and a 60% tariff on building products shipped to the TPP region. Automotive products represent $88 billion in U.S. exports and building products $29 billion. Similar tariffs are imposed on other U.S. exports to these areas, so tariff removal could have significant impacts on the U.S. economy. The U.S. Trade Representative, TPP Fact Sheet projects exports would increase by $123.5 billion per year by the year 2025, and Americans could gain $77 billion dollars toward employee salaries. An additional key goal in this

agreement, other than general economic growth, is to globalize regulations among the world. An example of this is in the intellectual property right laws of each country. Under the TPP agreement, these laws would change to extend the time of patents and copyrights. The U.S. copyright laws stipulate that product rights are lost 70 years after death of the creator, but in many Asian countries the law is 50 years. Standardizing these laws could go a long way to stabilizing the electronic piracy of CDs and DVDs in the region. Other important regulations to standardize are labor and environmental regulations. By globalizing the regulations, the treaty could improve labor and environmental standards of the region. Cons The cons to this agreement relate to

BE0005

borders on the Pacific Ocean: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam. These countries make up approximately 40% of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total GDP and 11% of the population. The TPP agreement is not as large as the TTIP but will still represent significant access to free trade. Negotiations began in 2009 and were expected to conclude by the end of 2015. However, trade ministers ended negotiations at the TPP meetings in Hawaii at the end of July, releasing a joint statement that only committed them to further talks. Pros Like the TTIP and most FTAs, removing tariffs is a primary goal. Unlike the TTIP, the removal of tariffs will have a much larger impact on the U.S. economy.

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trade agreement the greater regulations on patents. Gains to salaries are expected to come from this agreement, primarily driven by increasing patent length. While this sounds beneficial, the majority of the salary gains would be realized by employees with already higher income and in higher income countries, thereby increasing the income gap within and between countries. Another con from more stringent patent regulation is the increase of regulations on pharmaceuticals. Greater regulations could potentially reduce availability and drive up the cost of generic brand drugs. Texas and Houston According to a report from the Department of Commerce International Trade Administration, Texas exported $289 billion dollars of merchandise in 2014 and the Houston region contributed $115 billion of that. Of these exports, 61% went to countries that are already in a trade agreement with the U.S. On average, Texas exported $29.9 billion to the region covered by the TTIP between 2012 and 2014, accounting for 11% of all of Texas’ exports. The main industrial exports to this region are minerals and fuels (which incur 8% tariffs), chemicals (6.5% tariffs), and information and communication technology (14% tariffs).Texas exported an annual average of $149.5 billion to the region covered by the TPP between 2012 and 2014, accounting for 54% of all of Texas’ exports. The main industrial exports to this region are minerals and fuels (30% tariffs), chemicals (35% tariffs), and machinery products (70% tariffs.) Texas is a major contributor to industrial and agricultural exports to the regions covered in the TTIP and TPP. In 2013, Texas exported $5.7 billion dollars total in agricultural goods. Texas’ highest agricultural export was cotton at $1.4 billion, followed by beef and veal at $906 million. Conclusion At the end of June 2015, Congress approved and President Obama signed into law the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to enable

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negations. The TPA, colloquially called the fast-track, permits the president to negotiate a trade agreement and then submit it to Congress for overall approval – Congress cannot submit amendments, filibuster, or otherwise delay the vote on the trade deal. However, these controversial negotiations

have been ongoing for several years and are likely to go through further revisions before being accepted, if they ever are. Houston is the leading U.S. port for waterborne exports, so the potential impacts could be significant, but are yet to be determined.

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spotlight

Iconic Fred Hartman Bridge Turns 20 Kyle Beam, GHPB The Houston area is home to many majestic marvels. From Hermann Park, to the Astrodome, to the Johnson Space Center, to the San Jacinto Monument, these landmarks have represented Houston around the world for many years. Appearing on postcards and in photos, people instantly recognized these familiar places. But a lot has changed over the years and new landmarks have taken the place of some of the old. One of these landmarks, perhaps more representative of the growth in commerce and progress of Houston on a worldwide economic scale than any other, is the Fred Hartman Bridge. Located 22 miles from the Turning Basin of the ship channel, the bridge was built as a replacement for the Baytown Tunnel. The two lane tunnel was located between the current location of the bridge and the ExxonMobil Baytown Refinery at only 40 feet below the surface. When the

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ship channel needed to be deepened to 45 feet to enable more commerce in the upper region of the channel, the tunnel had to be removed and a new route across the ship channel created. Construction on the bridge began in 1987. Originally only scheduled to take two years to complete, construction was fraught with many problems and the completion date was pushed back multiple times. As the project dragged on, the public disinterest in finishing the project grew. But that changed in early 1995 when the City of Baytown wrote a letter to the editor of the Baytown Sun imploring the Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director, William Burnett, to finish the project. Finally, in September of 1995 construction was completed on the eightlane cable-stayed bridge, making it the largest cable-stayed bridge in the state. The

bridge was dedicated to Fred Hartman because of his contributions to the Baytown and La Porte area as the editor and publisher of the Baytown Sun. The opening ceremony for the bridge was held on September 27, 1995 and hosted by the Baytown and La Porte Chambers of Commerce, and attended by then-Governor George W. Bush, Miss Texas 1995, William Burnett, and the family of Fred Hartman. 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Fred Hartman Bridge. As Houston continues to celebrate its growth and prosperity, the bridge spanning the Houston Ship Channel from Baytown to La Porte along Highway 146, has become an ultimate symbol of that growth and prosperity. Now joined in the skyline with the towering Super Post-Panamax cranes of Barbours Cut terminal, the Fred Hartman Bridge remains a beacon that every Houstonian can look to and admire.

Ă˛

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Trade update

Waterborne Foreign Trade Statistics: First Half of 2015

Christine Schlenker, GHPB Waterborne foreign trade numbers through June 2015, the most current data available, are showing the impact of decreased crude oil imports and the strength of the U.S. dollar compared to the currencies of key trade partners. Trade values, though not volumes, nationally and particularly in the Port of Houston (public and private terminals) have been impacted by the declining price of crude, leading to a growing disconnect between trade values and tonnage. Despite the substantial quantities of domestic crude being produced, crude oil continued to be by far the largest U.S. import by tonnage, amounting to about one-third of total U.S. imports. The value of this commodity dropped more than 51% from the same time period last year, enough to lose its formerly expected position as top import by value, replaced by cars and passenger vehicles.

Total U.S. waterborne trade by value was $784.9 billion through the first half of 2015, down 9.9% from last year. Houstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total waterborne was $74.1 billion, a decrease of 11.1% from last year, placing it third overall. Container-focused ports Los Angeles and Newark, New Jersey, came in at first and second, respectively. Houston was the only port on the Gulf of Mexico to make it into the top ten by value. Only two ports in the top ten by waterborne value were close to evenly balanced between containerized and non-containerized trade. In Houston, containerized trade represented 44.2% of total trade by value, and in Baltimore, Maryland, the ratio was 41.4%. All of the other ports heavily favored containerized trade, with the next lowest percentage coming in at 76.0%, and all other ports over 80%. The value of containerized trade has been more stable than crude, diluting the impact of the value decline on trade by value. This led to a notable absence from the year-to-date top ten ports 24

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by value: New Orleans, which ranked eighth during the same time period last year. Houston and New Orleans both experienced losses of 20+ percent by value on noncontainerized trade, primarily derived from the decline in oil imports and oil price. Containerized trade, on the other hand, rose by value 13.5% for Houston and 7.8% for New Orleans. However, containerized trade in New Orleans amounted to less than a quarter of trade by value

Top U.S. Port by Waterborne Vessel Value June 2015 YTD (in Billion USD)

Top U.S. Ports by Waterborne Tonnage June 2015 YTD (in Million Metric Tons) All Other Seaports, 302.2 MMT

Houston, TX, 76.4 MMT

New Orleans, LA, 47.7 MMT

Mobile, AL, 17.4 MMT Long Beach, CA, 19.6 MMT Corpus Christi, TX, 22.1 MMT Port Arthur,

TX, 23.9 MMT

Norfolk-Newport News, VA, 25.6 MMT

Newark, NJ, 26.4 MMT

Los Angeles, CA, 40.4 MMT Gramercy, LA, 29.4 MMT

Source: GHPB analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data

trade update â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not enough to compensate for the decline in non-containerized value. Houstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trade diversity mitigated some of the repercussions of the oil price drop.

Moving to the other key metric, tonnage, total U.S. waterborne trade by tonnage was 631.0 million metric tons, down 1.2% from the same time period last year. Houstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difference between values and tonnage was more pronounced than the U.S. overall, as its waterborne trade by tonnage was 76.4 million metric tons, an increase of 5.0% from last year. This placed it, as usual, as the top U.S. seaport by tonnage with 12.1% of tonnage; the top ten ports by tonnage represented 52.1% of total trade. The next highest port by tonnage was New Orleans at 47.7 million metric tons, and fellow Texas ports Port Arthur and Corpus Christi came in at seventh and eighth, respectively, by tonnage.

Deep Draft Ports of Texas

Texas Ports

Source: GHPB analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data

As one might expect, the deepdraft ports of Texas, strongly influenced by the transport of crude oil, have behaved similarly to Houston. It is interesting to note that Houston fared better than most of the Texas ports, due in part to its aforementioned trade diversity. Houston represented 47.3% of Texas foreign waterborne trade by tonnage and 67.8% by value.

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trade update

Houston Exports Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Commodities

YTD Value (USD)

Total exports Oil (not from crude) Petroleum gases, other gaseous hydrocarbons Polyethylene Parts for heavy machinery Cyclic hydrocarbons Ethers, ether alcohols, alcohols peroxides, etc. Taps, cocks & valves for pipes, tanks, etc. Acetic acids, vinyl acetates, etc. Crude oil Pumps for liquids and parts thereof

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

40,466,801,307 9,322,149,336 2,143,966,110 1,596,144,728 1,454,176,708 1,142,340,188 994,452,045 874,925,120 646,309,753 635,964,970 582,787,717

YTD Value % Change -12.4% -21.9% -44.7% 4.9% -21.9% -28.8% -9.4% 6.8% 20.0% 56.0% -10.2%

YTD Tonnage YTD Tonnage (Metric Tons) % Change 42,355,868 10.6% 17,230,740 30.3% 6,439,760 16.1% 1,076,264 18.7% 78,545 -30.9% 1,193,322 10.1% 1,101,339 12.7% 21,776 29.9% 804,731 16.4% 1,755,620 175.4% 29,635 9.1%

Although the value of Houston’s exports declined 12.4% from the previously described crude price drop, tonnage was up 10.6%. The key drivers for Houston’s exports were petroleum oils and petroleum and hydrocarbon gases, up 30.3% and 16.1%, respectively. Parts for pipes and tanks, particularly taps, cocks, and valves and pumps for liquids, showed strong growth, as well.

Houston Imports Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Commodities Total imports Crude oil Oil (not from crude) Seamless iron & steel tubes, pipes, etc. Cars & motorized passenger vehicles Iron & steel tubes, pipes, etc. Cyclic hydrocarbons Taps, cocks & valves for pipes, tanks, etc. Vegetable extracts, saps, agar, etc. Hot-rolled flat iron, non-alloy steel Imports of returned exports

YTD Value (USD) $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

33,624,499,702 5,638,071,170 2,473,710,851 2,078,231,281 1,566,225,841 1,164,049,294 736,012,211 603,177,300 398,244,069 334,585,805 329,624,923

YTD Value % Change -9.7% -55.4% -20.8% 9.5% 23.4% 6.3% -23.2% 33.9% -19.5% -3.0% 4.1%

YTD Tonnage YTD Tonnage (Metric Tons) % Change 34,024,039 -1.1% 13,875,396 -20.8% 4,968,002 28.9% 1,152,830 6.2% 83,635 28.3% 1,255,629 5.4% 1,145,860 12.2% 70,160 58.9% 138,120 -12.3% 524,103 -2.2% 27,648 -67.7%

Total Houston imports declined 9.7% by value and 1.1% by tonnage compared to the first half of 2014. Crude oil continued its progressive decline, falling 20.8% by tonnage and 55.4% by value, but remains Houston’s top import by a significant margin. Iron and steel tubes and pipes performed well during this time period; however, anecdotal evidence from the waterfront suggests that the next round of trade numbers will show a decline beginning in July. Imports of passenger vehicles have seen excellent growth, up 28.3% by tonnage from last year.

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trade update

6 2

Houston’s Trade Partners

Houston continued to entertain a trade surplus for January through June 2015 valued at $6.84 billion, a decrease of 24.9% from last year. The U.S. overall faced a trade deficit of $264.1 billion, a decline of 2.5%. Houston’s top trade partner by value for this period was China, followed very closely by Mexico. Houston’s key crude oil partners are easily identified by the double-digit value declines in trade value compared to last year.

The unknowns that will continue to impact trade in Houston are the fluctuations of the price of oil, the strength of the U.S. dollar, and the volatility of China’s economy. Data on import volumes into Houston have yet to indicate a fall due to the strength of the dollar or crude prices. But, in a few months’ time, the data will show what the terminals are already experiencing – a decline in break bulk, such as steel tubes and project cargo. Famed political and economic pundit Ben Stein stated in an August 30, 2015, editorial that China’s economic uncertainties will have a trivial influence on U.S. exports to China. Only 6.3% of Houston’s exports go to China, but almost 24% go to Asia, and China’s fluctuating economy is impacting the entire region. While one may hope that Stein’s assessment applies to the Port of Houston, a negative impact is still likely to occur. ò w w w .t x g u l f. o r g S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5

BARGING AHEAD ever so politely.

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Maritime dinner

A Look Back 86th Annual Maritime Dinner Honoring ExxonMobil Judith Schultz, GHPB The Bayou City Event Center was the hot spot of the night on August 22, 2015, for nearly 800 guests from the ocean-going industry gathering to honor ExxonMobil as the Maritime Company of the Year at the Greater Houston Port Bureau’s 86th Annual Maritime Dinner. “We are excited to welcome so many guests this evening,” said CAPT Bill Diehl, president of the Greater Houston Port Bureau. “Our dinner celebrates the spirit of cooperation for planning, progress, and prosperity of our port, and we chose to recognize ExxonMobil this year because of their exemplary commitment to the port

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region and the Houston community. It’s a privilege to host an event reflecting the vitality of that approach to business.” Dinner-goers mixed and mingled during a convivial cocktail reception that included posing for photo ops in front of the fireplace in the Lakeview Ballroom and spirited bidding at the silent auction tables for items that ranged from a fascinating trip to Ireland (a sublime destination made more popular than ever by the “Game of Thrones”) to Texans football tickets to gorgeous custom and designer jewelry. The wine pull was so popular it sold out within the first hour, with some lucky pullers going

home with a fine 2011 Altamura Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, or a 2011 Nickel & Nickel: Branding Iron Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon bottle under their arms. Guests settled in to enjoy a delectable prime beef filet dinner, followed by the highlight of the event: recognizing ExxonMobil. Attendees enjoyed viewing the evening’s program from all angles as program speakers lit up on the event’s two 20-foot screens while making their presentations on stage. August 22, 2015, was officially designated as “ExxonMobil Day” by

Maritime dinner proclamations from the city of Baytown, presented by Baytown Mayor Stephen DonCarlos, and the city of Houston, presented by East End Chamber of Commerce President Frances CastanedaDyess. A resolution from Harris County was presented by Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Jack Morman. The proclamations noted ExxonMobil’s near 100-year history in the Houston community, extending back to Humble Oil & Refining Company days in 1919, their substantial support of educational initiatives and programs throughout the region, constructing a state-of-the-art campus in Houston, and investing in additional manufacturing facilities in Baytown and Mont Belvieu. A specially prepared video highlighted the shared history of ExxonMobil and the Port of Houston and paid tribute to ExxonMobil’s impact on the larger community. The video capped the proclamations and ushered in the culminating acknowledgements by Chairman Janiece Longoria of the Port of Houston Commission.

Chairman Longoria expressed her appreciation of ExxonMobil’s key involvement in business, education, and philanthropy as well as the company’s support of the Houston Ship Channel Centennial last year. “On behalf of the entire Port of Houston,” she said, “thank you ExxonMobil for all that you do to create commerce and economic prosperity for our region, and for all of your investments in education, health, and our communities.” Accepting the recognition award on the behalf of ExxonMobil was Neil Chapman, president, ExxonMobil Chemical Company. “The Houston Ship Channel is an engine of growth, delivering benefits to the Greater Houston area, the state of Texas, and the nation as a whole. ExxonMobil is proud to be part of this vibrant business community,” said Chapman. April Bailey, chairwoman of the Port Bureau dinner committee and senior vice president, commercial banking and marine finance at Amegy Bank, presented a model of an 18th-century tall ship to ExxonMobil as a commemorative reminder of the evening.

ExxonMobil was a major contributor to the 2014 Houston Ship Channel Centennial celebrations, providing financial and volunteer support. The company has donated $1.5 million to the Community College Petrochemical Initiative, supported science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) career development among students, and contributed $10 million in corporate and employee donations in 2015 to Texas colleges and universities to encourage STEM programs. ExxonMobil has consistently invested in the Houston region’s economic growth, most recently by initiating construction of a new steam cracker in Baytown and polyethylene facilities in nearby Mont Belvieu. To see more photos from the 86th Annual Maritime Dinner and learn more about the event, visit our website at www.txgulf.org/ annualdinner.php or go to our Facebook page at www. facebook.com/portbureau

maritime dinner

Clockwise from top left: Guests mingle around the silent auction; Todd Covini, American Commercial Barge Lines, talks with fellow guests; Neil Chapman, ExxonMobil Chemical Company, and Judge Ed Emmett, Harris County Judge; Vinny Pilegge, Manchester Terminal, with Art Flanagan, HUB International, and his wife Sandra. Bottom: Attendees enjoy a beef filet dinner before the award program. Photos by Kyle Beam and Kat Davis.

Maritime dinner

Clockwise from left: CAPT Bill Diehl, President, GHPB, April Bailey, Senior Vice President - Commercial Banking, Amegy Bank, Neil Chapman, President, ExxonMobil Chemical Company and Janiece Longoria, Chairman, Port of Houston Commission, hold the award presented to ExxonMobil for its contributions to the maritime community; Neil Chapman speaking on behalf of ExxonMobil; Tom Marian, Buffalo Marine, talking with attendees at the dinner; Jürgen Schröder, Schröder Marine Services, looks at silent auction items before the close of the silent auction. Photos by Kyle Beam and Kat Davis

maritime dinner

Thank you to all of our sponsors fo Queen of the Fleet

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Charles Flournoy

Shell Trading (US) Company

Silent A

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Gold

Annabeth & Mike Photography Blades International, Inc. Charles Flournoy Crane Worldwide Logistics LLC Houston Jewelry Houston Pilots Intermarine, LLC Stages Repertory Theatre Texas Terminals

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Maritime dinner

or the 86th Annual Maritime Dinner Commodore

Captain

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Auction Wine Pull Houston Mooring Co.

Silver

Amegy Bank Athena Gun Club Becker Vineyards Honoree Gift Braeburn Country Manchester Terminal Club Central Healthcare Media Sponsors Couture House Clark Freight Lines Rentals Crane Worldwide Dennis and Marie Logistics LLC Hansell Decor Sponsors Dry Comal Creek Argosy Transportation Vineyards and Winery Group Eastham, Watson, Odfjell USA, Inc. Dale & Fourney HDR Engineering, Inc. Houston Ballet Houston Symphony The Houstonian Hotel Innovative Images

The Inside Affair Design Intercontinental Terminals Company John Schlosser Kendra Scott La Torretta Lake Resort Maida’s Belts & Buckles L&D Events Maison Maison Makeup by Laura Manchester Terminal Nolan Richardson Peli Peli Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Suderman & Young Towing Company Todd Glass Art

Amegy Bank Amy’s Ice Cream Anonymous Artisans Restaurant Bonnie’s Beef and Seafood Boudreaux’s Cajun Kitchen Brady’s Landing Charles Flournoy Children’s Museum of Houston Cordúa Restaurants Doneraki Restaurant Eddie V’s Prime Seafood Flat Creek Estate Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake Houston Dairymaids

Bronze

Houston Urban Adventures Karbach Brewing Co. Mark’s American Cuisine Messina Hof Winery and Resort Natural Bridge Caverns Nothing Bundt Cakes Queen of Heirs Jewelry Taste of Texas The Barkery The Houston Museum of Natural Science New Orleans Museum of Art No Label Brewing

Panera Bread Port of Houston Authority Port of Texas City Saint Arnold Brewing Company Targa Resources Texas Renaissance Festival Tony Mandola’s Tradição Brazilian Steakhouse University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance Warehouse Live Water2Wine Wet ‘n’ Wild Splashtown

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Greater Houston Port Bureau www.txgulf.org 111 East Loop North Houston, TX 77029 (713) 678-4300 A Publication of the Greater Houston Port Bureau The Port Bureau News magazine is a monthly publication of the Greater Houston Port Bureau, a member-driven non-profit dedicated to promoting the maritime community, providing vessel movement information, and offering members premier networking and advertising opportunities to drive business. The magazine is distributed to over 7,000 professionals in the Houston maritime community via U.S. mail and email. Advertising is available for members.