Port Performance: Galveston, Georgia, Tacoma

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The Port of Galveston ranks as the fourth busiest cruise port in the U.S. based upon embarkation, according to a recent study prepared by Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA) for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). With nearly 13 percent growth in container traffic over the first two months of the fiscal year, the Georgia Ports Authority has made a strong start to FY2015. Larger vessels and the return of a former customer helped boost Port of Tacoma container volumes 10 percent last month compared to August 2013.

Port of Galveston Major Economic Contributor to North America’s Cruise Industry

The Port of Galveston ranks as the fourth busiest cruise port in the U.S. based upon embarkation, according to a recent study prepared by Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA) for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). In 2013, the Port of Galveston, Texas’ premiere cruise port, welcomed 901,000 passenger and crew, which is a 4.4 percent increase from 2012.

With more than $1.2 billion in direct spending and 20,271 jobs paying $1.16 billion in total income, Texas accounted for 6.3 percent of the industry’s direct expenditures, 5.6 percent of the industry’s total employment impact and 6.3 percent of the income impact. The state ranking remains third following behind Florida and California. The Port of Galveston embarked approximately 605,000 passengers last year.

"The Port of Galveston is committed to remaining in the top 20 cruise home ports worldwide. We are dedicated to strengthening our existing relationship with the cruise industry and increasing the economic impact to the local and regional communities." said Mike Mierzwa, Port of Galveston Executive Director.

Next year will prove to be even better for Galveston’s cruise business. Carnival Cruise Line will add a third year-round cruise ship, Carnival Freedom to its Texas fleet starting in Feb. 2015, marking the first time a cruise line has deployed three year round ships in the state of Texas. Together with the Carnival Magic and Carnival Triumph, the three ships will operate 170 four- to seven-day to the Western Caribbean and two 21-day voyages to the Eastern Caribbean from the Port of Galveston in 2015, providing consumers with an array of cruise lengths, departure days, and itineraries for "Fun Ship" cruising from Texas.

"Galveston is already one of our most popular embarkation ports and with Carnival Freedom we're not only dramatically expanding capacity in the market but also providing consumers with yet another exciting opportunity to experience our spectacular Fun Ship 2.0 innovations on a Texas-based ship," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. "In partnership with the Port of Galveston and the local community we have been able to increase our passenger counts five-fold since we first launched service from Galveston in 2000. Additionally, we are extremely grateful for the support of our travel agent partners who have played a key role in the growth of our Texas cruise program," he added. 

GPA Achieves 13 Percent Growth in Container Traffic

With nearly 13 percent growth in container traffic over the first two months of the fiscal year, the Georgia Ports Authority has made a strong start to FY2015.

For July and August, the GPA moved 595,711 20-foot equivalent container units, up 12.9 percent or 68,246 TEUs compared to the same period last year. Both months set consecutive TEU records, with 293,889 TEUs crossing GPA docks in July and 301,822 TEUs in August. The August number grew by 21,009 TEUs, or 7.5 percent, compared to the same month a year ago. Containers moved by rail also reached record levels in August, at 52,711 TEUs.

"To accommodate growth at these levels, we are taking the necessary steps to expand capacity now," said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. "Infrastructure improvements, which include additional cranes, operational improvements and container storage consolidation, will increase annual throughput capacity from 4.5 million to 6.5 million TEUs."

At today's board meeting, the GPA also approved the latest phase of container storage consolidation, which will add space for additional TEUs on Garden City Terminal.

"Increasing our capacity means increasing jobs and economic opportunity," said GPA Board Chairman James Walters. "More cargo moving through our deepwater ports supports growth not only within the transportation sector, but in the community goods and services supported by logistics industry payrolls."

By 2024, Garden City Terminal will feature some 30 ship-to-shore cranes, up from the current 22, and 169 rubber-tired gantry cranes, Foltz said. The GPA currently employs 116 RTGs to handle shipping containers on terminal.

The Port of Savannah moved 595,711 twenty-foot equivalent container units during July and August 2014.
Photo/Georgia Ports Authority