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From left to right: Jimmy A. Burke, James W. Fonteno Jr., Janiece Longoria, James T. Edmonds Chairman, Elyse Lanier, Kase L. Lawal, Steve Phelps

The Port of Houston Authority is a governmental body authorized by a 1927 act of the Texas Legislature.The seven-member Port of Houston Commission is the governing body for the Port of Houston Authority. The city of

Houston and the Harris County Commissioners Court each appoint two commissioners. These two governmentbodies jointly appoint the chairman of the Port Commission. The Harris County Mayors & Councils Association and

the city of Pasadena each appoint one commissioner.

The Port of Houston Authority’s executive director oversees the day-to-day operations of the port and implements policies and directives from the Port Commission. He supervises the PHA's divisions of administration, facilities, operations, trade development, and public affairs, as well as the office of the general counsel.

H. Thomas KornegayExecutive Director

The Port of Houston is now one of the largest ports in the world.

The Port of Houston Authority Commissioners

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When Columbus sailed from Spain in 1492, he was looking for a faster, more con-venient route by which goods could be transported from the Far East to Europe. Since that time, more than 500 years ago, transportation of goods and services among countries has changed the world, and the United States of America has become the world's largest economy. The Port of Houston has been, and contin-ues to be, an important part of that progress.

Houston, the Bayou CityHouston is known as the “Bayou City,” an appropriate name because it describes Houston's appearance. In addition, the name also points out an important and useful characteristic of its landscape. A bayou is usually a small, slow-moving stream, formed from a river that has accumulated thousands of tons of sand, silt, and loam as it makes its way to the ocean. As it approaches the ocean, the river widens and its waters slow, depositing sediment that sometimes changes the course of the river. Offshoots of the river may become bayous.

When Augustus and John Kirby Allen founded Houston in 1836, they were looking for the same advantages that settlers anywhere would seek. The availability of drinking water and water for farm crops would be at the top of the list, and the availability of transportation and communication would follow close behind. Not everything the settlers needed could be produced locally. Goods would have to be brought to the new town from other parts of Texas and from other countries around the world. In order to pay for the products they purchased, the inhabitants of Houston would have to sell the goods that they produced. These products had to be transported to those who would buy them.

The Allen brothers chose the location on which to establish Houston because they had the foresight to realize that Buffalo Bayou would link the city to the rest of the world. In their announcement, they said:

[Houston’s location] combines two important advantages: a com-munication with the coast and foreign countries, and with different portions of the Republic. As the country shall improve, railroads will become in use, and will be extended from this point to the Brazos ... [I]n a few years the whole trade of the upper Brazos will make its way into Galveston Bay through this channel.

As early as the 1820s, Buffalo Bayou’s usefulness for navigation was known. Unlike most major Texas streams, it ran in an easterly direction and was wide and deep from its junction (joining) with the San Jacinto River to Brays Bayou. It remained deep from Brays Bayou to White Oak Bayou, providing better passage than most Texas streams.

Houston Chronicle Activity Use the map of Texas, located on the WeatherChronicle of the

Houston Chronicle, to find Houston, Galveston, and Galveston Bay. How did the fact that Buffalo Bayou runs in an easterly direction make it, in the minds of the Allen brothers, the perfect link to Galveston Bay?

TEKSGeographyThe student understands the characteristics and relative locations of major historical and contemporary societies. The student is expected to:

T identify and explain the geographic factors responsible for pat-terns of population in places and regions.

T identify and explain the geographic factors responsible for the location of economic activities in places and regions.

The student understands the concepts of location, distance, and direction on maps and globes. The student is expected to:

T use cardinal and intermediate directions to locate places such as rivers, mountains, and cities on maps and globes.

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The Allens set out to prove that a water route from Galveston to Houston was possible. They hired the Laura, an 85-foot-long steam-boat, to make the journey from Galveston to Houston. The trip took three days, but the brothers believed that the journey proved that Buffalo Bayou could be navigated above Harrisburg.

Not everyone was convinced, and the doubters were partially right. Above Harrisburg, stretches of the bayous were narrow and winding, with overhanging trees along the banks and dangerous snags in the water. Galveston Bay, which is 30 miles of the 53-mile journey from the open sea to Houston, is only nine feet deep, very shallow for most vessels of that time period, as well as today.

To further prove their point, the Allens arranged for the 150-foot-long steamboat Constitution to visit Houston. Although the vessel reached Houston, it could not turn around, and it had to back down the bayou until it reached a bend wide enough to permit turning. That section, called Constitution Bend, is now the Houston Ship Channel's Turning Basin.

By 1838, four steamboats, including the Laura, were traveling between Houston and Galveston. However, water transportation on the bayou was not entirely safe; ships frequently ran aground or collided. Passengers were afraid to travel the narrow bayou above Harrisburg.

Businessmen began to realize that Houston’s growth and prosper-ity would depend on its sea route and that improvements had to be made. During the 1850s, the state of Texas, as well as the city of Houston and Harris County, provided funds for bayou improvement. Dredging was necessary as silt continued to build up in the bayou.

Most of the planned improvements were put on hold with the outbreak of the Civil War, and the bayou returned to its overgrown, natural state during the war years. Railroads, the cheapest, fastest means of land transportation, also deteriorated during the Civil War.

The sternwheeler St. Clair loading at the foot of Main Street.Photo credit: Reaching for the Sea, Port of Houston Authority.

Early Transportation on Buffalo Bayou

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Post-Civil War In 1869, the Buffalo Bayou Ship Channel Company was formed for the purpose of making major navigational improvements. In 1870, the city petitioned the federal government to make Houston a port of entry. The request was granted, and the United States Congress made an ini-tial $10,000 federal appropriation for channel improvements in 1872. This was only a first step, but an important signal for the future.

Houston Chronicle Activity

The federal government gets money from all of the states. It is sometimes difficult, therefore, to get Congress to fund an improvement needed by one particular state. Why do you think the federal govern-ment was willing to give money for channel improvements in Houston? How would that benefit the entire country? Look through the Houston Chronicle for examples of local projects that are funded, in whole or in part, by federal funds. Describe the projects. Explain how the entire country might benefit from the projects.

TEKSEconomicsThe student understands patterns of work and economic activities in Texas. The student is expected to:

T analyze and explain how developments in transportation and communication have influenced economic activities in Texas and in the United States.

HistoryThe student understands the political, economic, and social changes in Texas during the last half of the 19th century. The student is expected to:

T identify the impact of railroads on life in Texas, including changes to cities and major industries.

Galveston Bay, showing the locations of the Houston Ship Channel, Houston, Galveston, and other major fea-tures of the area.

Civil War Harms ProsperityDuring the mid-1800s, business was booming in Houston. Three steamships operated regularly between Houston and Galveston, carry-ing cotton and lumber from Houston through Galveston and on to the rest of the world. Railroads that served the area participated in the growth that transportation along Buffalo Bayou brought to Houston. At the beginning of the Civil War, Houston was becoming the railroad center of the South. Goods could be brought to Houston by rail, and then shipped to Galveston by steamboat. Likewise, goods purchased from the rest of the world would be shipped to Galveston, transferred to steamboat, and shipped to Houston. There the goods could be sold or shipped by rail to other locations.

Shallow-draft steamboats were ideal for navigating bayous and rivers. Very little depth was required on a shallow-draft steamboat because a fraction of the vessel was under water. These vessels were character-ized by narrow, flat bottoms, straight hulls and lightweight construc-tion. Because of their construction, these steamboats, like barges, traveled nearly on top of the water.

The outbreak of the Civil War brought a halt to improvements, and even maintenance of the railroads and bayous stopped.

Draw a form of transportation that was used to ship goods during the mid 1800s.

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2.3.

Draft is the distance between the waterline, or water level, and the bottom, or keel, of the ship. Label this diagram.

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Houston Needs a Deep-Water PortBecause bulky raw materials such as cotton needed economical water transportation in order to reach world markets, Houston’s businessmen began to point out the need for a deep-water port. It was expensive to ship cotton to Galveston, where the cotton would be loaded onto an oceangoing vessel, a ship that was large enough to carry the sup-plies and people needed to make a long journey. People had to be paid to load the cotton twice. Time was also wasted. This added to the expenses that the shipper had to pay. If only the cotton could be shipped directly from Houston!

The problem was that most oceangoing vessels were designed to draw more than 20 feet of water. They needed a draft of more than 20 feet. This meant that the water had to be more than 20 feet deep for the ship to travel in. The draft is the distance between the water level and the bottom (keel) of the ship. Buffalo Bayou was not nearly deep enough, and Galveston Bay was certainly too shallow. Houston either had to build a deep-water port or continue using the wharves in Galveston.

Ads began to appear in various newspapers to persuade people that a deep channel to a deep-water port was necessary for Houston. One such ad showed the barge Jackson transferring its load of cotton to the steamship Catania. The ad argued that if the steamship had been able to reach Houston, the producer would have saved $2,500 in freight charges. The ad read, “With deep water in Buffalo Bayou, this cotton could have been loaded onto a steamer at Houston.”

In 1899, the barge Jackson transported the largest cotton cargo ever to travel Buffalo Bayou. The barge was loaded at the Houston Converting Plant with 5,300 bales of cotton, weighing 1,285,861 pounds, and journeyed to Bolivar Roads, where it was loaded on the steamship Catania for Boston.

Photo credit: Reaching for the Sea, Port of Houston Authority.

Houston Chronicle Activities While most ads sell products or services, some ads sell ideas,

such as the ad for the deep-water port. Look through the Houston Chronicle for an ad that tries to convince people about something other than a product or service.

Another way that people might try to persuade others to behave in a particular way is by writing letters to the editor. Read one or two let-ters to the editor in the Houston Chronicle and explain what the writer wants readers to do as a result of his/her letter.

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Competition from GalvestonWhen Galveston obtained a 25-foot channel in 1896, Houston lost one of its competitive advantages. Large vessels that before had been forced to unload beyond the sandbar, could now unload cargo at Galveston docks. Houston congressmen began working to convince the U.S. Congress that a deep-water port with a deep-water channel to the open sea should be built at Houston, but progress was very slow.

On September 8, 1900, Galveston was devastated by a hurricane dubbed the Great Storm. More than 6,000 people were killed, and most of the buildings in Galveston were destroyed.

With the news of Galveston's destruction, the Rivers and Harbors Committee of Congress began to listen to Congressman Tom Ball of Houston. They appropriated $1 million for dredging the Houston Ship Channel to a depth of 25 feet. Money ran out, however, and improve-ments stopped at 18 1/2 feet. This depth would allow some oceango-ing vessels to navigate, but it was not deep enough for most vessels, and deep-sea trade was hindered.

By 1904, the 18 1/2-foot depth had almost reached across shallow Galveston Bay. The Houston Ship Channel still had problems to be solved. Many sharp turns along the channel made navigation difficult. The largest ships of the 19th century were approximately 300 feet long. By the beginning of the 20th century, ships that were 350 feet long were coming into service. Unless the sharp bends were straight-ened, the channel would be obsolete before it was even completed.

An argument about the location of the Turning Basin, the head of navi-gation, was settled by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, who decided that it should be located at Constitution Bend. The biggest problem was the depth of the channel. Most oceangoing vessels of the early 1900s were designed to draw more than 20 feet of water. Houston could not compete with other Gulf of Mexico ports unless its channel was 25 feet deep. Cotton, lumber, and rice — the most important car-goes — were low-value commodities. This meant that the sale by the producer of the goods would depend on price. And the price at which he could sell his product depended partly on the price he had to pay for transportation. A deep-water port was a necessity.

Houston Chronicle Activity There are certain brand names that we will pay more for because

we believe that their quality makes them worth more money. There are other items that we purchase based on price alone. Look through the Houston Chronicle for three ads for brand-name items that you or members of your family believe are worth the extra money. Then, find ads for three items that you would buy based on price alone. Which of these manufacturers must worry most about transportation costs? Why?

TEKSEconomics

The student understands how businesses operate in the U.S. free enterprise system. The student is expected to:

T explain how the cost of production and selling price affect profits.

Originally called Constitution Bend, the Turning Basin is the heart of the Port of Houston.

After Galveston was devastated by a massive hurricane in 1900, Congress appropriated $1 million for deepening the Houston Ship Channel.

Photo credit: The Library of Congress.

The Port of Houston Authority Houston Mayor Horace Baldwin Rice was instrumental in developing the “Houston Plan,” which promised that local interests would pay one-half the cost of completing a 25-foot channel if Congress would appro-priate sufficient funds to execute the project promptly. Mayor Rice and Congressman Ball led a large delegation to Washington, D.C., in 1909. They presented the plan to the House Rivers and Harbors Committee, and Congress approved the plan.

Work began in June, 1912, as the Texas, a large dredge barge, began work. Five more large dredges were later added. The project, sched-uled to take three and a half years, was finished in two years and three months. Amid much fanfare, the Houston Ship Channel officially opened November 10, 1914. It was at that time, and remains today, an engineering marvel that connects an inland city to the sea 52 miles away.

At the same time, the Panama Canal and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, a protected shipping canal connecting Texas with Florida, were under construction.

Houston was ready for the major changes and tremendous economic activity that were to follow the discovery of oil in Texas.

Houston’s new ship channel and railroads attracted the oil industry to the Bayou City. Transportation, land for expansion, protection from tropical storms, and access to nearby Mexican, Central American, and South American oil fields made Houston a leading city in the petroleum industry.

Although World War I virtually halted world shipping, Houston quickly recovered when the war ended, and the ship channel became home to many oil refineries.

Changes in the design and size of ocean vessels, particularly oil tank-ers, made a 30-foot depth necessary by the 1920s. By 1925, the proj-ect to deepen the channel to 30 feet was completed.

TEKSHistory

The student understands important issues, events and individuals of the 20th century in Texas. The student is expected to:

T identify the impact of various issues and events on life in Texas

such as urbanization, increased use of oil and gas, and the growth of aerospace and other technology industries.

The student understands the political, economic, and social changes in Texas during the last half of the 19th century. The student is expected to:

T explain the growth and development of the cattle and oil industries.

The Dredging ProcessAs the Houston Ship Channel marks more that 90 years of service, a five-year dredging construction project to deepen and widen the water-way has been completed. It took nearly 30 years to receive approval and funding for this project. The ship channel's new depth of 45 feet and its width of 520 feet makes it possible for current and future ves-sels to use it easily and safely.

In addition, barge lanes have been constructed along both sides of the channel. These barge lanes improve safety by separating the more than 150,000 barges that call at the Port of Houston each year from the larger vessels in the waterway.

A closeup of the dredge teeth on a dredge barge.

The dredge barge has a set of teeth that churn up the dredge material so that the pipeline can suction it from the channel’s floor.

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TEKSHistory

The student understands how people adapt to and modify their envi-ronment. The student is expected to:

T describe ways people have adapted to and modify their environ-ment in Texas, past and present.

The student understands the impact of interactions between people and the physical environment on the development of places and regions. The student is expected to:

T identify and analyze ways people have modified their physical environment.

T describe ways in which technology influences human capacity to modify the physical environment.

Houston Chronicle Activity The proposal for deepening and widening the Houston Ship Channel

was made in 1969 and took 30 years to receive approval and funding from Congress. Actual construction took a little more than five years to complete. Planners had to make projections about the future as they imagined what would be needed in the 21st century. Major projects are often proposed decades in advance of their completion. Look through the Houston Chronicle for mention of a long-range project. Explain what supporters of the proposal expect to accomplish. Tell what assumptions they are making about the future. Do you agree with their assumptions? Explain your answer.

The dredge material exits the pipeline and builds up to form the Mid-Bay marsh.

A dredge barge controls the suction pipe and collects the dredge material from the bottom of the Ship Channel.

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The Port Delivers an Improved EnvironmentWhat Happens to the Dredge Material?Millions of cubic yards of silt, sand, and clay are dredged from the ship channel each year. Without careful planning, disposal of this dredge material can have a negative effect on the environment. To make sure that the surrounding areas are attractive and useful, the Port of Houston Authority treats the dredged areas through the Disposal Area Management Program (DAMP). First, most of the water is removed from clean, dredged material. Then, a specially designed tractor is used to level the dredged material. The sun dries the top layer, and more dredged material is added, which undergoes the same process.

Eventually, trees and grass grow, and the site looks like a meadow. Even then, the DAMP site needs care. The Port of Houston Authority works with the Beneficial Uses Group (the BUG) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain the sites. Water from rainfall must be removed, grass must be cut, and vegetation must be controlled. Concerns of neighborhood civic associations are addressed so that people who live nearby can take pride in the appearance of their community.

Progress and plans for the future continue. Scientists hope that in the future they will find a way to use the dredged materials to provide sand and clay for construction.

The BUG developed the 50-year plan to use more than 350 million cubic yards of silt, sand, and clay dredged from the ship channel to make environmental improvements that benefit birds, fish, oysters, and people. The dredged material is being used to construct 4,250

acres of inter-tidal wetland habitat. A six-acre bird nesting island was constructed. An offshore underwater berm was created to attract fish. Access channels and anchorages were provided for recreational boat-ers. About 172 acres of oyster reefs were constructed to make up for oysters that had been affected in other areas. Two previously existing islands that had eroded over the years were partially reconstructed.

The wildlife habitats created thus far have attracted enormous numbers of birds, including the federally endangered brown pelicans. Oystermen, fishermen, and recreational boaters are all enjoying the new reefs, fish habitats, and anchorages that have been created through this project.

This environmental project, larger than any other even proposed elsewhere in the United States, has won awards for the Port of Houston Authority.

Also, the Port of Houston Authority’s Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility were the first of any port facilities in the U.S. to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System for waste recycling and air quality improvement that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001 compliance.

Houston Chronicle Activity In the Houston Chronicle, find a photo of an environment that people

have changed or modified in order to meet their needs. Paste below.

Color this wildlife habitat, the 219-acre Glendale site, that is now a large meadow with trees. Draw wildlife that now can live there.

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The Port Delivers Cleaner WaterwaysLitter that washes down the street drains into the bayou and ends up in the ship channel is called “floatables.” Mighty Tidy is a boat that skims and picks up trash in Buffalo Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel. Mighty Tidy can also remove trash from trees and bayou banks, or waters’ edges. The vessel, originally painted bright pink, was named by Houston area student Haley Hendrix.

TEKSHistoryThe student understands how people adapt to and modify their environment. The student is expected to:

T identify reasons why people have adapted to and modified their environment in Texas, past and present, such as the use of natural resources to meet their basic needs.

T analyze the consequences of human modification of the environment in Texas, past and present.

Social Studies SkillsThe student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information from a variety of sources including electronic technology. The student is expected to:

T identify different points of view about an issue or topic.

In 2001, student Ally Levy won a contest to name a six-acre island formed from Houston Ship Channel dredge material. She researched and discovered that a Spanish explorer named José de Evia discovered Galveston Island and named it for his Spanish governor, Bernando de Galvez. Ally named this wildlife habitat Evia Island after José de Evia.

More than 4,250 acres of marsh and bird habitat is being created using dredge material from the project of enlarging the Houston Ship Channel.

The Port Delivers a Man-Made Marvel

Volunteers pick up trash along Buffalo Bayou.

Don’t Litter.

When we litter, the garbage gets in the storm drains and

ends up in our bayous and bays.

The bayous and bays are home to many animals and

habitats. These animals want a clean home too.

Litter is bad for our environment. It’s bad for our communities. Put trash in its proper place.

Every year, dump trucks pick up enough litter to fill 83 garbage trucks!

Don’t trash our streets. Find new ways to reuse and dispose of trash.

Spread the word to keep Houston clean and green.12

The Port of Houston Delivers the Clean & Green Initiative

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CLEAN &

GREEN

On September 4, 2007, the Port of Houston Authority launched the Clean & Green campaign to promote cleaning up debris in and around Buffalo Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel. In partnership with Buffalo Bayou, Shell Oil and Port of Houston Authority volunteers, the port strives to make Houston a healthier and greener place.

From August 2007 through June 2008, a total of 1,713 cubic yards of trash was removed, which would fill nearly 67 garbage trucks.

Five days per week, a land-based crew collects litter and debris

from the banks while a water-based crew works from a skimmer boat to remove litter from storm drains, banks and

other natural collection areas. The program aims to fill 83 gar-bage trucks. This will result in

a cleaner and more beautiful waterway for Houston residents

to enjoy.

On June 21, 2008, nearly 100 volunteers gathered to

collect 5,049.35 gallons of trash. That’s enough to fill 53

of the 90-gallon receptacles Houston householders use

for trash collection.

Help the trash get to its proper place. Be careful! If you go the wrong way, the trash may end up in a neighborhood, bayou or street.

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The Port Delivers Tons of Cargo Every DayPort Fun Facts

The Port of Houston delivered more than 1 million TEUs in 2007 and handles more than 225 million tons of cargo per year.

The Bayport facility alone can handle up to 2.3 million TEUs.

The Port of Houston handles 95.5% of the waterborne containers moving through Texas.

Each year, more than 7,700 vessels come through the Port of Houston.

Container Fun Facts

The number of containers a ship can hold is measured in TEUs, or 20-foot-equilvalent units.

One TEU is equal to one 20-foot container.

A 40-foot container equals two TEUs.

A 40-foot container holds 640 LCD televisions.

Large ships carry about 8,000 TEUs.

Bayport Container Terminal

The $1.2 billion Bayport Container Terminal is a state-of-the-art facility and has substantially increased the port’s container-handling capacity. The terminal will have a total of seven container berths and currently has six wharf cranes with 65 long ton (22,240 pounds) capacity.

Activity

Containerized cargo is cargo that comes in containers. These containers hold just about anything … shoes, computers, bikes, you name it. List some other items that could be containerized cargo. ____________________________________________________

Dry bulk cargo is dry material that does not come in containers. It is measured by weight or volume. For example, salt, grain or sand. List some other items that could be dry bulk cargo. __________________________________________________________

Liquid bulk cargo is wet material that does not come in containers. It is measured by weight or volume. The main liquid products that move through the Port of Houston are petroleum products and organic chemicals. List some other items that could be liquid bulk. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Breakbulk or rolling cargo consists of large or heavy items that have to be moved on rollers to transportation. These products include wood, food products and cars. List some other items that are considered breakbulk. ________________________________________

Activity Credit: Port of Long Beach

The Port Delivers Economic BenefitsEconomic ImpactEver since the Port of Houston first opened to deep-water vessels in 1914, Houstonians have recognized that their port is vitally important to the area’s economic growth. Today, the Port of Houston is ranked first in the United States in foreign waterborne tonnage and second in total tonnage. The port is one of the most significant sources of jobs and business revenue in the community.

The latest figures (2007) show that the port’s public and private marine terminals generate nearly $118 billion in business revenues annually. In addition, more than 785,000 total jobs are associated with the port activity in Texas. Direct jobs are those generated by the companies providing support services to the cargo-handling and vessel-related services of the port. Related jobs are those created locally throughout the region due to the purchase of goods and services by those directly associated with port activity. There are 119,856 direct jobs associated with port activity. The port also generates $3.7 billion annually in state and local tax revenues. As the amount of cargo increases, and as more and more vessels call at the Port of Houston, these numbers will increase.

What kinds of jobs do people do at the port?As you might well imagine, there are many different kinds of jobs done at the Port of Houston. Longshoremen load and unload the cargo; office workers help keep track of the many different products that are arriving and leaving each day; workers on tugboats help pull the ships from place to place in the port. There are good jobs for people with all sorts of abilities at the port.

Houston Chronicle Activity As workers who hold the direct jobs associated with port activity buy goods

and services in their communities, their purchases create related jobs. Look through the ads in the Houston Chronicle for goods and services that these workers might purchase. Make a collage of the items that jobs related to the port activity might provide for these workers.

TEKSEconomicsThe student understands patterns of work and economic activities in Texas. The student is expected to:

T explain how people in different regions of Texas earn their living, past and present.

Science, Technology, and SocietyThe student understands the impact of science and technology on life in the United States. The student is expected to:

T explain how scientific discoveries and technological innovations in the fields of medicine, communication, and transportation have benefited individuals and society in the United States.

The Port Delivers to the WorldWhere can goods be transported?The facilities operated by the Port of Houston offer shippers deep-water access to world markets and a direct link to 14,000 miles of U.S. intracoast-al and navigable inland waterways. The 53-mile-long Houston Ship Channel links Houston to Galveston Bay and the rest of the world. Some of the leading trading partners are Mexico, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, South Korea, Germany, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. From the Port of Houston, vessels travel to ports in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Ships use the Panama Canal, a man-made canal in Central America, to reach the Pacific Ocean without having to travel around South America.

The Port of Houston has helped the growth of other forms of transportation in the area. Two railroads, Burlington Northern-Santa Fe and Union Pacific, provide service to all points in the United States. More than 100 truck lines serve the Turning Basin, which is located just five miles from major interstate highways that run both north-south and east-west.

Goods shipped to the Port of Houston from anywhere in the world can be unloaded from the vessels and loaded onto rail cars or trucks quickly, easily, and inexpensively.

The Port of Houston exports petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, cereals and cereal products, plastics, animal or vegetable fats and oils, machinery, and many other products to countries around the globe.

TEKSEconomicsThe student understands how Texas, the United States, and other parts of the world are economically interdependent. The student is expected to:

T identify ways in which technological changes have resulted in increased inter-dependence among Texas, the United States, and the world.

T explain how Texans meet some of their needs through the purchase of products from the United States and the rest of the world.

T identify oil and gas, agricultural, and technological products of Texas that are purchased to meet needs in the United States and around the world.

Houston Chronicle Activities

Look through the Business section of the Houston Chronicle to find articles about three items that Houston exports to other countries.

Find articles about three items that are imported from other countries.

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From Bush to Kitchen: How Coffee Reaches Us

Growing and HarvestingCoffee is grown on an evergreen shrub in tropical and subtropi-cal climates, mostly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Favorable year-round temperatures and plenty of rain make prime growing conditions for coffee trees. The average coffee tree takes five years to bear its first full crop.

There are two types of coffee grown throughout the world: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica is grown at altitudes of 2,000 – 6,000 feet above sea level, mostly in Mexico, Central and South America, Eastern Africa, and the East Indies. Robusta grows wild in low altitudes, mostly in Western Africa and Indonesia.

Green coffee beans are actually the seeds of the coffee tree’s fruit, called cherries. An acre of coffee trees can produce up to 10,000 pounds of coffee cherries. This amounts to about 2,000 pounds of beans.

Coffee beans are separated from the pulp and impurities by one of two processing methods. In either method, the moisture content must be maintained at a constant level.

TransportingMost coffee importers follow the process from harvest to destination port. They visit local coffee farms to observe the cultivation, harvesting, and processing methods. They negotiate prices, purchase the coffee, book the transportation, and track the coffee beans to make sure the coffee that arrives at the port is the coffee they bought.

Coffee beans are transported in containers. The beans are sometimes packed in sacks and weigh about 130 pounds. Containers are trans-ported over water via steamship and over land via truck or railcar.

WarehousingCoffee beans (still packed in the 130–pound bags) are stored on pallets in specially-certified warehouses that control humidity and provide inventory control systems. Coffee beans may be stored in the warehouse for more than two years. They may be distributed anywhere by truck, rail, or airplane.

RoastingExposing green coffee beans to a specific warming process eliminates moisture in the beans. When heated to temperatures of 400˚F or more, coffee beans lose moisture and weight, and take on a darker color. Roasting times vary from seven minutes to 14 minutes. To preserve the freshness of the roast, coffee is packaged and sealed as quickly as possible.

DrinkingCoffee is the most popular beverage in the world. More than 400 billion cups are consumed each year. As a traded commodity, coffee is second only to oil on the world market.

The Port Delivers Goodwill Between CountriesTrade with foreign countries establishes economic ties, but it also provides the opportunity to increase goodwill between the countries. One example of the Port of Houston’s efforts to expand trade is the visit by Port officials to Angola and Namibia, two nations located along the coast of western Africa. Trade agreements can help all countries to get what they most need. Angola needs housing materials, consumer goods, medical supplies, mining and construction material. In return, they can export coffee, forest products, and seafood. Namibia is expected to import mining equipment, road-building equipment, and housing materials. They can export copper, zinc, grapes, seafood, gran-ite, and salt. The Port of Houston will benefit from the increased trade, but so will Angola and Namibia. Good trade relations will also enhance the image of each of the trading partners.

The Port of Houston also helps increase goodwill between countries when it assists the government of the United States in providing humanitarian aid to developing countries. Thousands of tons of food are shipped to countries around the world from Houston — food that is necessary to feed needy people.

The Port of Houston has sister port agreements with:Port of Dalian in the People’s Republic of China

Santos in Brazil Kaohsiung in the People’s Republic of China National Port Authority of Liberia in Monrovia, Liberia Panama

TEKSGeographyThe student understands how geographic factors influence the eco-nomic development, political relationships, and policies of societies. The student is expected to:

T explain factors such as location, physical features, transportation corridors and barriers, and distribution of natural resources that influ-ence the economic development and foreign policies of societies.

Houston Chronicle Activity

Foreign countries need many goods. Look through the Houston Chronicle for articles that tell some of the products foreign countries need. Are some of those items goods that can be shipped from the Port of Houston?

Thousands of tons of food are shipped to countries around the world from Houston — food that is necessary to feed needy people.

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The Port Delivers SafetyAs one of the world's largest ports, the Port of Houston includes the exceptionally busy Houston Ship Channel, through which ships from around the globe travel in and out every day. To assure the safety of these vessels as they navigate the 53-mile long waterway, the Houston pilots guide every vessel to its dock.

The Houston Ship Channel is among the world’s most difficult to pilot because of the long and narrow channel and the heavy load of traf-fic that it carries. The pilots are experts at navigating the channel. Although the ship captains are very good at their jobs, they do not have the experience with the Houston Ship Channel that the pilots do. Pilots know the tug traffic routines, and they know where the busy intersections are. Pilots have guided vessels through the channel since it was opened in 1914. In 1914, there were two pilots; today there are 72 pilots and 18 deputy pilots in training.

The pilot boards a ship that is entering the channel when the ves-sel is in the Gulf of Mexico. If the vessel is leaving the channel, the pilot boards the ship at the dock. The pilot works with the captain of the vessel to make sure the ship enters and leaves the Houston Ship Channel safely.

Considering the amount of traffic and the different sizes of the ships that navigate the channel, the Port of Houston has one of the finest safety records in the country, and the pilots work hard to maintain that record.

The Port Delivers SecurityWhen the terrorists struck the United States in 2001, it became clear that Americans would have to make security a priority in this country. Airline safety has been one of the most noticeable changes in our everyday lives, but experts have been busy planning for improvements

in many areas. Vessels carrying goods and people from dozens of different countries call at the Port of Houston every day. It is important that those ships and people are safe from those who would like to hurt the people and the economy of the United States.

Immediately after 9/11, ensuring the security of the vessels and facilities along the Houston Ship Channel and other waterways throughout the region became the focus of a group called the Port Security Sub-committee of the Houston Galveston Navigational Safety Advisory Committee. Its members included representatives of federal, state, and local agencies, as well as representatives from businesses, organizations, and private citizens. The group, now known as the Area Maritime Security Committee, was chartered by the U.S. Coast Guard and is the center for all phases of port security planning, including anti-terrorism, counter-terrorism, and crisis response management.

In recent years, the Port of Houston Authority has received more than $38.6 million in grants from the federal government, and several important security projects have been implemented. Projects that improve dockside and perimeter security, such as fencing and lighting, and a closed-circuit television camera system have been installed. The additional fencing and lighting serve as barriers, preventing unauthorized access to the port. As a result, PHA is the first port authority in the world to receive ISO 28000:2007 certification for Port Police and the perimeter security operations at both the Barbours Cut and Bayport Terminals. The Port of Houston Authority also has constructed a state-of-the-art command center that connects with the U.S. Coast Guard. The FBI and Customs also tie into the command center. A highlight of the recent 80th Texas Legislative Session was authorization for the creation of the Houston Ship Channel Security District.

The Port of Houston Authority works closely with the U.S. Coast Guard to determine whether ships entering the channel might be a problem. As ships approach the Texas coastline, the Coast Guard conducts a risk analysis to determine whether there are any safety concerns. The risk analysis takes into account the last port of call, the country of origin, the crew, and the cargo. A Navy patrol craft is used to board vessels before they enter the port. The screening process is very strict, and if there is some reason to do so, the Coast Guard will hold the ship offshore.

The system includes monitoring people, cargo, and vessels entering the port from the time they leave a foreign port to the time they arrive on U.S. shores.

Houston Chronicle Activity

Many changes have taken place in the time since the attacks by ter-rorists on 9/11. Look through the Houston Chronicle for articles about security measures that have been put in place since that time. Then, estimate the additional cost that accompanies those measures. Include expenses for equipment and materials and expenses for time lost that could have been spent in a more productive way if there were no need for security.

A Port of Houston Authority fireboat shows its capabilities in red, white, and blue colored water.

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Get ready for an unforgettably spectacular waterborne tour of one of the busiest ports in the world aboard the Port of Houston Authority's free public tour boat!

Named for the legendary military commander, Sam Houston, who led the fight for Texas independence from Mexico and later statehood, the M/V Sam Houston offers free 90-minute round-trip voyages along the Houston Ship Channel.

The M/V Sam Houston has been operating as the port authority's pub-lic tour vessel since July 30, 1958. During the last 50 years, the boat has opened its doors to clubs, civic groups, presidents and royalty for free tours, and by 1979, a total of 1 million passengers had taken the tour. Departing from the port's Sam Houston Pavilion, visiting sightse-ers can enjoy the views of international cargo vessels and operations at the port's Turning Basin Terminal. Measuring 95 feet in length and 24 feet in width, the boat carries a maximum capacity of 100 passen-gers with air-conditioned lounge seating and additional standing room on the boat's rear deck.

The Sam Houston Delivers 50 Years of Service

Credits:Written by: Marie Swiston, for the Houston ChronicleEdited by: Port of Houston AuthorityDesigned and illustrated by: Gary Tuttle and Tony Dennison, for the Houston Chronicle Photos provided by: Port of Houston Authority

The legendary M/V Sam Houston turned 50 years old on July 30, 2008.

How Well Do You Know the M/V Sam Houston? Circle the correct answer.

The M/V Sam Houston was named after the military commander (Sam Houston/George Washington). The boat was christened on July (4th/25th/30th), 1958, and on July 30, 2008, our prestigious M/V Sam Houston celebrated (100/85/50) years of service. It has been giving ($5/$50/FREE) tours down the (ocean /Houston Ship Channel /river) since (2008/1958) and by 1979 over (1,000/100,000/1,000,000) people had taken a tour. The boat is (50ft/500ft/95ft) long and (20ft/24ft) wide. This historic beauty can hold up to (50/100) people and is fully air-conditioned. All I have to do is call 713-670-2416 or make reservations at (port.com/portof.com/portofhouston.com) and I can take a trip aboard the historic M/V Sam Houston.

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PARTS OF A BOATThe front of the boat is called the bow.The back of the boat is called the stern.The left side of the boat is called the port.The right side of the boat is called the starboard.

Now let’s see if you can label the parts of the M/V Sam Houston with the appropriate terms.

SHIP MATCHDraw a line from each ship in column A to its description in column B.COLUMN A COLUMN B1. M/V Sam Houston A. This is used to make the Houston Ship Channel deeper and wider2. Dredge Barge B. This vessel helps put out fires on ships 3. Tugboat C. An 85-foot-long steamboat that made the first journey from Galveston to Houston4. Cargo Vessel D. This ship carries lumber, rice, cotton, and other products to countries around the world5. Fireboat E. The ship that provides a free, 90-minute tour along the Houston Ship Channel6. Laura F. This is a small, but strong, vessel that pulls or pushes larger ships