The Port of Houston is an autonomous governmental entity authorized by a 1909 act of the Texas Legislature. In l969 the voters of Harris County approved the port as the Harris County Houston Ship Channel navigation District. In 1971 the Texas Legislature changed the name to the Port of Houston Authority and gave it expanded powers for fire and safety protection along the 50-mile Houston Ship Channel.

Governing Body

The Port of Houston Authority is governed by a board of seven commissioner appointed by the officials of local governments located along the Houston Ship Channel. The commissioners serve without pay and are appointed for two-year terms, which are staggered so that three or four commissioners are up for reappointment each year.

Facilities:

The Port of Houston Authority owns 43 general cargo wharves, six container wharves, five liquid bulk wharves and five dry bulk wharves available for public hire. The Port Authority facilities include the Turning Basin, the Houston Public Elevator, Woodhouse Terminal, the Bulk Materials Handling Plant, Fentress Bracewell Barbours Cut Container Terminal, Jacintopost Terminal and CARE Terminal. The Port Authority operates the Malcolm Baldrige Foreign Trade Zone. The authority's facilities handle approximately 15 percent of the cargo moving through the port.

The Port of Houston Authority is presently experiencing major increases in its business. Capital projects spending for 1998 is projected to be approximately $87,000,000. This represents work to repair and maintain existing facilities as well as construction of new facilities.

Facts

Ranked first in the United States in foreign tonnage and second in total tonnage. Tonnage handled in 1996 was 148.2 million tons. Number of ships that called in 1996 was 5,764. Number of containers handled in 1996 was 794,461 TEUs (20 foot equivalent units).