DOCKSIDE - Port Freeport

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PORT FREEPORT NEWSEnvironmental AwardProject earns Port Freeportmajor environmental awardFrom left: Port Commission Chairman James F. Brown, Jr.,Port Freeport Environmental Coordinator Lisa McMichaeland Port Freeport Director of Engineering David Knuckey.A project to removean abandoned mobileoffshore drilling unitfrom the west bank ofthe Freeport HarborJetty Channel hasearned Port Freeporttop honors from theAmerican Associationof Port Authorities(AAPA).AAPA, the organization representing the interests of seaportsthroughout the Western Hemisphere, recently honored PortFreeport as the sole recipient of its Environmental ImprovementAward for Stakeholder Awareness, Education and Involvement.Judges cited as a key to their decision the fact that Port Freeportinvolved a local school in the effort. Port Freeport EnvironmentalCoordinator Lisa McMichael led the initiative to engage seventhandeighth-grade students at Lake Jackson Intermediate Schoolwho, as the Mission Possible Environmental Team, were educatedon environmental issues while tracking the project. The studentsbecame involved to the extent that they wrote letters to Congresssupporting the unit’s removal.Decontamination and removal of the “Zeus” unit – acollaborative effort of numerous federal, state and local entities– took away a potential source of ecological peril for a nearbycounty park and other recreational areas, said Port FreeportDirector of Engineering / Construction David Knuckey. Theunit’s removal, utilizing $2 million in state funds, also openedopportunities for future development of upland property andeliminated the possibility of disruption of harbor commerce thatcould have occurred – at a cost of some $19 million a day – if theunit had capsized into the channel.“The Port staff, with strong support from the commissioners,strives to always keep the environment at the top of ourpriority list,” said Port Freeport Port Commission ChairmanJames F. “Jimmy” Brown Jr. “The removal of the Zeus unitsends a strong message to the community that we will worktirelessly to keep our waterways and shorelines clear of potentialenvironmental hazards.”Velasco TerminalVelasco Terminal advancestoward opening in fall 2009The fi rst phase of construction has begun onthe Velasco Terminal.Construction ofthe first phase ofPort Freeport’sVelasco Terminal isproceeding towardanticipated openingin the fall of 2009.Groundbreakingtook place inOctober 2006 for the project, which is to encompass the newestcontainerized cargo facility on the Texas Gulf Coast, as well asberthing for ships carrying project cargo and other goods.Port Freeport Director of Construction and Engineering DavidM. Knuckey noted that, as 2008 was drawing to a close, theplacement of foundation piles and sheet pile wall was nearlycomplete and concrete was beginning to be poured at the VelascoTerminal site.The $40 million first phase is to include the first 800 linear feetof an eventual 2,400 feet of berthing. The first phase also calls forcompletion of a 125-foot-wide apron, dock access road, lightingand other features. Rails are being installed to support gantrycranes that are expected to come in a later phase. Ultimately,the terminal is to include development of 90 acres of supportingbacklands.The Port’s ship channel on which the Velasco Terminal is beingdeveloped already has a depth of 45 feet, and Port Freeportofficials are working with U.S. Congress and U.S. Army Corpsof Engineers in an effort toward widening the channel anddeepening it to 55 feet.The terminal is named in honor of the historic town oncesituated across the Brazos River from Freeport. Old Velasco, nowpart of Surfside Beach, was the site of Stephen F. Austin’s firstcolony in 1821. On June 26, 1832, it was the site of the Battleof Velasco, the first armed confrontation of the Texas war forindependence. By 1836, Velasco was made temporary capitalof the Republic of Texas and was the site of signing of treatiesending hostilities between Texas and Mexico. Old Velasco wasdestroyed by a hurricane in 1875, and the town was partiallyrebuilt in 1891 some 4 miles upstream from the original site.port freeport11dockside
PORT FREEPORT NEWSGFOAGFOA recognizes Port Freeportwith Certificate of Achievement forExcellence in Financial ReportingFrom left, Port Freeport Port Commission Chairman James F.Brown, Jr., Port Freeport Managing Director Phyllis Saathoffand Port Freeport Accounting Manager Mary Campus.For the 18th year ina row, the Certificateof Achievementfor Excellence inFinancial Reportinghas been awardedto Port Freeport bythe GovernmentFinance OfficersAssociation of theUnited States andCanada, (GFOA), forits Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).This Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognitionin the area of governmental accounting and financial reportingand its attainment represents a significant accomplishment bya government and its management. An Award of FinancialReporting Achievement has been awarded to Port FreeportManaging Director Phyllis Saathoff, who is the individualdesignated as primarily responsible for preparing the awardwinningCAFR.“Mary Campus, Accounting Manager, and the accountingdepartment staff are to be commended as well. This award-winningCAFR is a reflection of the excellent work they do consistentlythroughout the year,” Saathoff said. “It is a privilege to workwith such a dedicated and conscientious accounting team.”The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meetthe high standards of the program including demonstrating aconstructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicateits financial story and motivate potential users and user groupsto read the CAFR. The GFOA is a non-profit, professionalassociation serving approximately 16,000 government financeprofessionals with offices in Chicago, IL and Washington, DC.Port Freeport currently ranks 16th among U.S. ports ininternational cargo tonnage handled. With a current channel of45-foot depth, soon to be widened and deepened, just 3 milesfrom open Gulf of Mexico waters, Port Freeport offers morethan 7,500 acres for future development. Port Freeport serves itscustomers and stakeholders through development and marketingof competitive world-class navigational capabilities, technicallyadvanced marine and multimodal terminal services and portrelatedindustrial facilities while achieving profits and creatingjobs as a leading economic catalyst for the Texas Gulf Coast. Formore information on Port Freeport visit www.portfreeport.comor call 1-800-362-5743.port freeport12Breakbulk ConferencePort attends 19th AnnualJOC Breakbulk ConferenceTrade show attendees try their hand on the Nintendo Wii at the Port’s booth.For the seventh consecutive year, Port Freeport officialsgreeted importers and exporters, freight forwarders, stevedores,government officials, logistics technologists and shippingexecutives at the 19th Annual Journal of Commerce (JOC)Breakbulk Transportation Conference and Exhibition in NewOrleans.At the conference, held Oct. 14-16, the Port enticed attendeesto visit their trade show booth by allowing passer-by’s to playthe Nintendo Wii game “Mario Kart” for a chance to win theNintendo Wii or a LCD TV. Port representatives collected morethan 140 business cards from those who dropped by their booth,and then drew the winners’ names out of a trophy cup at the endof the conference.The winner of the LCD TV was Gottwald District Sales ManagerRafael Gonzalez and Rolldock Managing Director Eric Schmidleft the conference with the Nintendo Wii. However, everyonewho visited the booth was handed a stress reliever in the shapeof a car.“The breakbulk show is important because everyone who is aplayer in the cargo business is there,” Port Freeport Director ofTrade Development Mike Wilson said. “It is the kind of showwhere decision-makers show up.”dockside
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