On Tuesday, January 27, the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority met for its first meeting of the year. The meeting was held at the new Port Administration Building, located in Houston’s historic Fifth Ward and bringing Port Houston closer to its earliest roots.

Chairman Ric Campo opened the meeting by sharing that all terminals have returned to normal operations following Winter Storm Fern, expressing appreciation to Port Houston staff and industry partners for their hard work and dedication throughout the weather event.

The Commission recognized the retirements of two notable leaders, Commissioner Stephen H. DonCarlos and Port Houston Chief Legal Officer Erik Eriksson, whose steady leadership and public service have shaped Port Houston for years. Throughout the meeting, many team members and partners shared kind words and personal reflections, highlighting their dedication to collaboration, their mentorship across the organization and throughout the maritime community, and the enduring effects of their contributions on Port Houston’s culture and achievements.

Underscoring the national importance of the Houston Ship Channel, Chairman Campo also highlighted a recent on-site meeting with Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Adam Telle and Major General Jason Kelley. Joined by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) members, industry partners, and regional collaborators, the group discussed ongoing maintenance dredging, future channel projects, and broader regional USACE initiatives. “This demonstrates how important the Houston Ship Channel is and the strong collaboration happening in Houston right now,” said Chairman Campo.

Timely Approvals and Updates Shared
During the meeting, the Port Commission voted on several agenda items and were also presented updates on key initiatives, including:
• The 2026 plan includes approximately 45 infrastructure projects with an estimated value of $365 million. Key initiatives include the construction of the new Wharf 1 at the Bayport Container Terminal, the rehabilitation of Wharves 5 and 6 at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal, two key maintenance facilities, and phase one of a new access road at the Bayport terminal.
• Two Marine Terminal Services Agreements were approved to encourage volume growth through Port Houston’s public terminals and provide the support needed for continued infrastructure investment.
• Two construction contracts were approved for the maintenance facilities at Turning Basin and at Bayport, modernizing capabilities, and optimizing overall terminals efficiency.
• A services contract was awarded to Build Momentum for consultant services supporting grants and other funding opportunities. The Port Houston team currently supports a portfolio of $350 million in grant-funded projects and is identifying additional grant opportunities that support communities near the port.

2025 Reflections & Successes
In his report to the Port Commission, Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins shared highlights from 2025, including the announcement that public facilities handled more than 54.5 million tons—the highest on record.

Other notable achievements included:
• Maritime Economic Development:
o Channel reliability and navigation: Secured $345.6 million to close out Project 11 and support operations and maintenance, and obtained Federal Assumption of Maintenance for Houston Ship Channel Segment 1B with projected savings of about $300 million over 50 years; improved channel readiness by completing Port led dredging in Galveston Bay for Project 11, advancing the Project 12 feasibility study, and implementing a barge fleeting exclusion.
o Capital program and facilities delivery: Delivered on the capital program by completing 30 projects valued at approximately $330 million; completed the Port Administration Building; broke ground on the Port Coordination Center at the Turning Basin.
o Funding and access improvements: Secured ~8MM in funding from the Texas Department of Transportation for the Bayport Southern Access Road Phase 1.
o Commercial development and market reach: Deepened commercial reach through trade missions to more than 15 countries and expanded Foreign Trade Zone 84 with seven new sites.

• Leadership & Partnerships:
o Realigned the strategic plan around Port Houston’s core purpose.
o Advanced sustainability and transparency by launching the Clean Ports Program and publishing the Goods Movement Emissions Inventory.
o Expanded community impact and workforce development by reaching more than 50,000 people; distributed $500,000 through the Port Houston Community Grants Program to 24 local organizations, marking the largest group of recipients and highest total amount awarded in the program’s history.
o Successful execution and record attendance of the Houston International Maritime Conference.
• People & Organization:
o Earned Great Place to Work Certification for the second consecutive year.

Additional Updates
Finally, Chairman Campo also announced the application period for the 2026 Port Houston Community Grants program on February 1.
Source: Port Houston