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June 2014
PORT APPROVES MASTER PLAN
L-R Front, Port Commission President C.A. "Pete" Shelton, Secretary-Treasurer Georgine Guillory, and Vice-President
Lee E. Smith L-R Back, Port Director/CEO Chris Fisher, and Commissioners Bill C. Darling, Pat Anderson and Louis
M. Broussard Jr.
The Port of Beaumont Board of Commissioners voted unanimously in February to approve the port’s 2014 Capital Improvement
Program. The program includes approximately $27 million in projects. In addition, the Commissioners voted to approve a 10year, approximately $500, million Master Facilities Plan.
The purpose of the Master Plan is to identify and develop cost-effective recommendations for short term capital investments and
long term projects. Implementing these plans will improve the Port of Beaumont’s marketability, productivity, and capacity to
serve existing and future customers.
In order to develop this plan a complete study was conducted of the port’s existing infrastructure, land use, transportation
patterns, and anticipated markets. The positive effects of the Sabine-Neches Waterway Deeping Project and the Panama Canal
expansion were also taken under consideration.
The short-term plan for capital improvements is intended to optimize the port’s ability to attract business, create jobs, stimulate
the local economy, and generate revenues. The projected long-term plan is intended to serve as a guideline for future
development of the port’s land and transportation resources. These improvements are expected to take five to 10 years to
accomplish.
The Port of Beaumont has recently reached major milestones in the development of its Jefferson and Orange County properties
completing more than $67 million in infrastructure improvements in 2013. The 2014 Master Plan follows a similar methodology
as the 1996 and 2006 Master Plans, while proposing more far-reaching improvements to the port's existing infrastructure.
“We’re a little ahead of schedule, which is good,” Port Director/CEO, Chris Fisher said. “We had a very good process for
implementing our last master plan.”
“The new plan consists of short-term projects, which total approximately $211 million in improvements within five years, and
another $320 million in long-term projects beyond five or 10 years in planning,” added Fisher.
More than $67 million was invested at the Port of Beaumont on infrastructure improvements. These improvements
including a new railcar holding yard and new tracks into the port were completed in 2013.
VICE ADMIRAL BROWN VISITS 842ND
L-R, Port Director/CEO Chris Fisher, USCG Captain George “Joe” Paitl, U.S. Army SGT Major Henry Ash, U.S. Navy
Vice Admiral William A. Brown; Deputy Commander U.S. Transportation Command, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel
Darrin Bowser; Commander 842nd Transportation Battalion, U.S. Army Colonel Marshall Ramsey and Deputy Port
Director, Bill Carpenter
Vice Admiral William A. Brown, Deputy Commander, U.S. Transportation Command, (USTRANSCOM), traveled with his
Executive Officer U.S. Army Colonel Marshall Ramsey from Scott Air Force Base, IL to the Port of Beaumont in February. The
purpose of the visit was to review 842nd Transportation Battalion operations. USTRANSCOM is the single manager for global
air, land, and sea transportation for the Department of the Defense.
U.S. Army Colonel Jason Vick, Brigade
Commander of the four geographically separate
Transportation Battalions from Langley, VA,
joined Brown, Ramsey, and Bowser for an
employee recognition ceremony and a briefing
of Port of Beaumont operations. The meeting
included an overview of Coast Guard
operations along the Gulf Coast presented by
USCG Captain Joe Paitl and briefing by Port
Director/CEO Chris Fisher.
The 842nd Transportation Battalion's primary
mission is to conduct expeditionary port
openings globally along with surface
deployment
and distribution through terminals and
facilities on the western Gulf Coast to
meet the combatant commanders'
objectives.
U.S. Army Colonel Jason Vick
To this end, the Battalion leads Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command's (SDDC) efforts to provide
deployment support around the world through its three strategic seaports in Texas (Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Corpus Christi),
ports in the Pacific Northwest, and seven alternate seaports throughout the Gulf Region. The majority of this effort takes place
at the Port of Beaumont, the busiest military port in the U.S.
NEW DOWNTOWN LIVING IS FOR THE BIRDS
Port Director/CEO Chris
Fisher and Port
Commission President C.
A. “Pete” Shelton were
honored to accept a
custom-built birdhouse
constructed by Mr. Harry
Clark, age 90, of
Beaumont. The birdhouse
was placed on the grounds
of the port in hopes of
attracting a family of
Purple Martins this spring.
Purple Martins are known
for eating mosquitoes, flies
and other insects and are
dependent on artificial
housing. Once gathering by
the thousands, the
species suffered a severe
population crash in the
1980’s. The decline is
widely linked to the release
and spread of European
Starlings in North America.
Starlings and House
Sparrows compete with
Martins for nests.
L-R, Port Director/CEO Chris Fisher, Harry Clark & Port
Commission President C.A. "Pete" Shelton
The port has
joined the
efforts of Clark
and other
area
organizations
in an attempt
to preserve the
Purple
Martins. The
hand-crafted
bird house is
made of
marine wood
and features
five stories
with 40 threeinch holes.
Harry Clark proudly displays "Spark Plug" his wooden sculpted
and hand-painted 12- foot boat. Clark built the boat 60 years
ago for a cost of $17.
Clark served in the U.S. Army and is a veteran of the Korean War. He is a twice retired refinery worker who enjoys his time
fishing, duck hunting, wood crafting ,and feeding birds and squirrels. Clark has built and donated over 100 Purple Martin houses
to the community.
"I enjoy making the Purple Martin Houses, but I enjoy fishing and hunting more," said Clark. “'Spark Plug' has had more fish,
duck and squirrels in it than any other boat in Beaumont.”
EAST BANK VISION IS A REALITY
In less than two years the vision of an industrial development on Port of Beaumont property on the East Bank of the Neches
River has become a reality. The first initial phase of construction is complete and trains are delivering crude oil on a regular
basis. The deep water dock with a rapid unloading system is accommodating ocean-going tankers, vessels and barges. Three
Class 1 rail carriers: Union Pacific, Kansas City Southern and BNSF Railway offer service into the Jefferson Transload Railport
Terminal.
One of the proposed six loop tracks, capable of unloading 300,000 barrels of crude from rail tank cars per day, is open and
operating giving Jefferson Energy the ability to serve customers with petroleum products direct from rail car to barge.
Three Class 1 rail carriers: Union Pacific, Kansas City Southern and BNSF Railway now offer service into the Jefferson
Transload Railport Terminal on Port of Beaumont property located on the East Bank of the Neches River.
The rail terminal is a public-private partnership between the Port of Beaumont and Jefferson
Energy Companies. Future development includes steam and heat facilities to unload and store bitumen and other heavy crudes,
a truck ramp with direct access from IH-10 and pipeline connections to major hubs, refineries and crude terminals.
Encompassing 250 acres, the site allows space for future expansion, storage, and blending of crude oil.
For additional information: http://jeffersonenergyco.com
MARAD ADMINISTRATOR VISIT
L-R, Vice-President Lee Smith, Commissioner Pat Anderson, MARAD Administrator
Paul "Chip" Jaenichen and Port Director/CEO, Chris Fisher.
The Port of Beaumont hosted a visit by Deputy Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen, U.S.
Department of Transportation, (MARAD) in March. His visit to the port coincided with a trip to MARAD’s
Beaumont Reserve Fleet, which is completing a major expansion of its layberth facilities on the Neches
River. Jaenichen and his team also inspected preparations for the layberthing of three Ready Reserve
Force Ships that are being relocated to Beaumont from other ports.
Jaenichen has been with MARAD
since
July 2012. He was appointed by
President Obama.
Jaenichen advises and assists the
Secretary of Transportation
on commercial maritime matters,
the U.S. maritime industry,
and strategic sealift command.
Paul "Chip" Jaenichen
The Cape Texas, the Cape Trinity and the Cape Taylor are referred to as the Cape T Class and began to
arrive at the Port of Beaumont in mid-April. The ships will be staffed and berthed in Beaumont for up to
10 years.
Ready Reserve Force (RRF) was initiated in 1976 to support the rapid worldwide deployment of U.S.
military forces. As a key element of Department of Defense (DOD) strategic sealift, the RRF primarily
supports transport of Army and Marine Corps unit equipment, combat support equipment, and initial
resupply during the critical surge period before commercial ships can be marshaled.
The Cape Texas, the Cape Trinity and the Cape Taylor are referred to as the Cape T Class. They began to arrive in
Beaumont in mid-April and are expected to be staffed and berthed for up to 10 years.
Im-PORT-ant People...
Lieutenant Commander Mary Kessler 842nd Transportation Battalion visits with port officials. L-R, Director of
Corporate Affairs John Roby, Port Director/CEO
Chris Fisher, Deputy Port Director Bill Carpenter and Director of Operations Kirby Dartez.
Under the direction of Dr. Tae Hoon Kim, adjunct professor of Industrial Engineering at Lamar University; 18 Korean
students participated in a three-week international program. While in Beaumont, the group studied English, a wide
array of engineering topics and visited area attractions. The port supported the program by hosting a tour of the port
and a question and answer session.
L-R, Joe Willey, retired Beaumont firefighter, Port Commission President C.A. "Pete" Shelton, Port Director/CEO
Chris Fisher and Dr. Richard LeBlanc take time for a photo after a recent tour of the port's Orange County facilities.
Lamar University engineering students L-R, Will Watson, Clint Choate, Kyle Baker,
Carolina Salas, Joey Blackner, Lucas David, and Madhi Fatouraee toured the port in April.
Orange County Sheriff Keith Merritt and Chief Deputy Clint Hodgkinson met with Jefferson Energy and port officials
to discuss Orange County emergency management plans.
L-R, Jay Whitman Jefferson Energy, Deputy Port Director Bill Carpenter, Joel Waldrop Jefferson Energy, Orange
County Chief Deputy Clint Hodgkinson, Port of Beaumont Chief/FSO Stephen Davis, Orange County Sheriff Keith
Merritt, Port Director/CEO
Chris Fisher and Randy Adair, Jefferson Energy.
Members of the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce Mentee/Mentor Program and division members of
Leadership Development toured the port in April. The tour focused on the economic impact of the port, recent
infrastructure improvements and plans for future development. L-R, Karyn Hawkins, Amy Denison, Christina Mason,
Gary Chalk,
Darren Erwin, Emily Patrizi, Tina Broussard, Susan Benoit, Michael Perez, Pat Calhoun,
Josh Smith and Tim Sudela.
L-R, Port Commissioner Pat Anderson, Rotarian Thiago Facchini, team leader; Ivan Pironti, Port of Beaumont
Director of Corporate Affairs John Roby and Jose Rocha take time for a photo during their recent visit. The Port of
Beaumont hosted a visit by a Rotary International Group Study Exchange sponsored by the Beaumont Rotary Club. The
visitors observed terminal cargo operations, ship loading and rail switching, and received a tour of the Orange County
crude oil terminal.
PORT EMPLOYEES & 842ND TEAM UP FOR TRASHOFF DAY
"TEAM PORT OF BEAUMONT" participated in the community event to help clean up the city.
Port of Beaumont employees and the Seafarers' Center of Beaumont teamed up with the U.S. Army 842nd Transportation
Battalion and visiting 1181st Transportation Battalion from Meridian, MS, to participate in a city-wide campaign to help clean up
the streets of Beaumont. On April 4, the group picked up trash and debris along the port’s property line from the main gate for
about one mile along two city streets. The combined efforts of the port employees, the Seafarers' Center, and the Army resulted
in the removal of 257 pounds of trash from Beaumont streets.
L-R, Port Director/CEO Chris Fisher, Patty Ontiveros, Port Director of Finance and Administration Tracy Mills, Brenda
Whitworth, Misty Schexnayder, Port Deputy Director
Bill Carpenter and Port FSO Chief Stephen Davis get ready to clean up the streets of Beaumont.
CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT ON SUZANO PULP AND PAPER
The Imperatriz mill is one of the most modern in the world.
Suzano Pulp and Paper started up bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp production at its new mill in Imperatriz,
Maranhão in northeast Brazil in December. In February, Suzano produced the first shipment of pulp milled at the new unit,
which was exported to the United States. A total of 11,900 tons were shipped to three different ports from the Port of Itaqui
located in São Luis, Maranhão. The Port of Beaumont received one of the three shipments on March 21.
The mill is expected to produce 1.5 million tons of bleached eucalyptus market pulp per year and will ship its production
to Europe and North America. The Imperatriz unit has two dryers and two lime kilns, which give the mill greater operational
flexibility, production stability, and competitiveness.
The 90-year-old company is known internationally as the pioneer in Brazil for their production of 100% recycled paper. Suzano
has more than six thousand employees in Brazil. Suzano sold 1.3 million tons of paper in 2011, of which 40% was exported.
Suzano’s commitment to
sustainability and
customer service has
been recognized globally.
They operate in
30 countries from their
head office in Brazil and
commercial offices in
Europe, North America,
and Asia offering over 30
brands of products to 60
countries.
The first ship of woodpulp produced at the Imperatriz
mill called at Beaumont.
For additional information visit:
http://www.suzano.com.br/portal/suzano-pulp-and-paper.htm
SOUTHERN YELLOW PINE MAKES MAIDEN VOYAGE TO CHINA
The Port of Beaumont welcomed the M/V STAR
LOEN on her maiden voyage and first arrival to this
port on April 21. The Norwegian -flagged ship is
owned and managed by Grieg Star Shipping, Bergen,
Norway. The general cargo vessel, built in 2013 at
Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Ulsan, South Korea,
sailed from Livorno Italy on March 10. The ship has
gross tonnage of 37,447 tons with DWT of 50,792
tons.
M/V Star Loen loading 10,000 tons of southern
yellow pine harvested in Southeast Texas
and Southwest Louisiana
In recognition of the maiden voyage Port of
Beaumont Director of Trade Development Ernest
Bezdek delivered a commemorative plaque to the
Ship’s Captain Edwin Mendoza.
The ship will transport 10,000 tons of Southern
Yellow Pine, harvested in Southeast Texas and
Southwest Louisiana, to China. Merrill & Ring, Port
Angeles, Washington, is the shipper. James J.
Flanagan Shipping, Beaumont, Texas, served as
stevedore and Inchcape Shipping Services, of
Beaumont is the ship’s agent.
The ship is expected to arrive in China in late June.
Director of Trade Development
Ernest Bezdek presented a
Maiden Port Call plaque
to Captain Edwin Mendoza.
L-R, Port of Beaumont Director of Trade Development Ernest Bezdek, Riley Fogarty Merrill & Ring, Neil Turner, Grieg
Star Shipping, Captain Edwin Mendoza, Dave Stroble, Merrill & Ring and Charles Spurlock, Merrill & Ring.
The Steamboat Laura was the finest boat on the Neches River in 1872. She could hold six hundred bales of cotton and
featured luxurious cabins and a saloon for passengers.
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