Port of Houston Authority

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The Port of Houston Authority operates and manages the Port of Houston, one of the largest and busiest ports in the United States, facilitating maritime trade and commerce.

<b>The Port of Houston</b><br> The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located just a few hours' sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico. The port is ranked first in the United States in foreign waterborne commerce, second in total tonnage, and sixth in the world. The Port of Houston is made up of the port authority and the 150-plus private industrial companies along the ship channel. All together, the port authority and its neighbors along the Houston Ship Channel are a large and vibrant component to our regional economy. Approximately 175 million tons of cargo moved through the Port of Houston in 2002. A total of 6,414 vessel calls were recorded at the Port of Houston during the year 2002. <b>The Houston Ship Channel</b><br> The Houston Ship Channel has been a catalyst for growth in Harris County since the first journey of a steamship up Buffalo Bayou in 1837. The ship channel plays a critical role in today's community as well. We generate jobs and opportunities that allow businesses to flourish. Economic studies reveal that ship channel-related businesses support more than 287,000 direct and indirect jobs throughout Texas while generating nearly $11 billion in economic impact. Additionally, more than $649 million in state and local tax revenues are generated by business activities related to the port. It is projected that the Port of Houston will continue to be an important factor as north-south trade expands. <b>Galveston Bay</b><br> Galveston Bay is an irregularly shaped, shallow body of water, approximately 30 miles long (26 n.m./48 km) in a general north-northeast and south-southwest direction, about 17 miles (14.8 n.m. or 21 km) in width at its widest part and generally about 7 to 9 feet (2.1 to 2.7 m) deep. Midway the length of the bay, it is nearly separated into two parts by Red Fish Bar, a chain of shoals. The part of the bay northward of Red Fish Bar is generally designated as "Upper Bay" and the part southward as "Lower Bay." The northeastern end of the Upper Bay is called Trinity Bay. Ship channels to Houston, Galveston, Texas City and Port Bolivar extend from Bolivar Roads in the southern part of Galveston Bay. From the Gulf of Mexico, deep-draft vessels enter Galveston Bay between Bolivar Peninsula to the northeast and Galveston Island to the south. This entrance is called Galveston Harbor and extends from deep water in the Gulf of Mexico through the pass formed by the jetties extending from Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula to Bolivar Roads, the deep-water area between Bolivar Roads, the deep-water area between Bolivar Point and Pelican Island Fort Point. <b>Intracoastal Waterway</b><br> The Apalachee Bay, Florida, to Brownsville, Texas, section of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway extends through the lower part of Galveston Bay. This route follows a dredged channel inshore along Bolivar Peninsula, through Bolivar Roads and joins Galveston Channel at its east end. From the west end of Galveston Channel, the route passes through the lower part of Galveston Bay and continues through West Bay. An alternate route of the Intracoastal Waterway crosses the Houston Ship and Texas City channels and passes through the northern end of Pelican Island.

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