HOUSTON, July 17, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) approved $3.1 million in construction and maintenance contracts at container terminals and a proposal to conduct a goods movement air emission inventory at its regular July 17 meeting.
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda G1) The Commission approved awarding a construction contract to M & I Electric Industries, Inc., for C-2 Substation redundant transformer at Barbours Cut Terminal in the amount of $535,000. The redundant transformer will ensure crane substation reliability comparable to adjacent terminals within Barbours Cut.
(Agenda G2) The Commission approved awarding a construction contract to Demar, Ltd., for Bayport marine gate expansion, stage 2 -- installation of canopies, booths and pedestals for $866,553. To accommodate increasing volumes of containers processed by shipping lines, this expansion adds two entry lanes and two exit lanes. Canopies over the gate lanes will be extended and new communications pedestals will be installed.
(Agenda G3) Commissioners approved awarding a construction contract to Oates Industries, Inc., for Bayport marine gate expansion, stage 2 -- installation of two platform scales for $173,808. This expansion is also needed to accommodate increasing volumes of containers processed by shipping lines and adds two exit lanes and two entrance lanes with truck scales.
BARBOURS CUT MATTERS
(Agenda K1) Commissioners approved advertising and receipt of competitive sealed proposals for splash zone painting at Wharf Nos. 1-7 and Lash Dock at Barbours Cut at an estimated cost of $1 million to $1.4 million. The wharf bulkhead at Barbour's Cut Terminal was last painted more than 20 years ago and requires this maintenance.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
(Agenda K3) Commissioners approved advertising and receipt of proposals for professional services to conduct a goods movement air emission inventory at the Port of Houston. This will include an update to the 2002 Houston-Galveston Area Vessel Emissions Inventory to capture emission from ocean-going vessels and harbor craft. It will also include emission inventories for rail and on-road truck activities within the Port area. The effort is a vital part of understanding the actual footprint of goods movements at the Port of Houston on the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area.
This news release is not a substitute for the official PHA agenda. To view the complete agenda, please visit: http://portofhouston.com/publicrelations/meetings.html
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 7,000 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
Members of the public who wish to speak at a Port Commission meeting will be asked to sign in at the 4th floor lobby area. They may speak when the Chair calls on them during the appearances portion of the agenda and their comments will be limited to three minutes. The public comment protocol is available on the PHA Web site, at: http://portofhouston.com/publicrelations/meetings.html
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.
The Port of Houston Authority logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=720