HOUSTON, July 24, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Port Commission of The Port of Houston Authority approved increases in the port cargo security fees at its July 24 monthly meeting. Chairman Jim Edmonds presided over the meeting with Commissioner Steve Phelps, Commissioner Jim Fonteno, Commissioner Kase Lawal, Commissioner Jimmy Burke, Commissioner Janiece Longoria and Commissioner Elyse Lanier.
SECURITY FEES
(Agenda item M5) Commissioners approved the first increases in port cargo security fees since the fees were adopted on April 1, 2005. The increases will go into effect on October 1, 2006, in accordance with the rates adopted by the Gulf Seaports Marine Terminal Conference on May 4, 2006. The fee increases will go toward offsetting some of the costs associated with ensuring a safe and secure port.
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda items G12, G13, G14, G15) Commissioners approved $247,217 in construction contract credits and $88,681 in contract increases, for the Bayport Cruise Terminal building, Port Road, marine terminal gate and container yard projects. The requested amendments will facilitate the planned opening of the Phase IA container terminal.
(Agenda item K5) The commission authorized PHA's staff to advertise and receive competitive sealed proposals (CSPs) for construction of the permanent amenities building at the Bayport Container Terminal. Vendors will now be invited to submit CSPs for consideration of a potential $1 million to $1.3 million contract to build a two-story industrial facility near the container wharf. The building will provide break areas and leased office space for longshoreman and stevedore operations.
(Agenda item L1) Commissioners authorized PHA's staff to begin negotiating with Aviles Engineering Corp. on an engineering services contract for materials testing of the Bayport Phase 1 container yard. Aviles received the highest ranking of the three firms staff recommended, by PHA staff, followed by ATSER and Paradigm Consultants Inc., respectively.
(Agenda items K7, K8, K9) The commission authorized PHA's staff to advertise and receive CSPs for graphic design and creative support services (estimated costs of $600,000 to $1.2 million, over 24 months), printing services (estimated costs of $450,000 to $700,000, over 24 months) and photography services (estimated costs of $85,000 to $120,000, over 24 months). The expenditures will aid the PHA's effort to keep stakeholders informed about its activities, upcoming projects and contributions to the community.
To view the complete agenda, please visit: http://portofhouston.com/publicrelations/meetings.html
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The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 6,600 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and 10th largest in the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com
To access the port's web site photo gallery, please visit http://www.portofhouston.com/publicrelations/publicrelations.html and click the link for PHA Photo Gallery.