Galveston, TX (March 17, 2020) – Galveston Wharves is projecting record-breaking wind energy cargo and lay-ship revenues for the first quarter of 2020.

Port Director Rodger Rees said, “We’re on track to have a record-breaking first quarter for wind cargo, with nearly 750 tower pieces moving through the port. We see no signs of this slowing.”

In 2019, the port imported nearly 2,000 wind tower pieces, which generated $3.4 million in port revenues and a total of 58,210 work hours for stevedores and union workers.

Rees added that the port’s efforts to pursue other cargo opportunities have paid off with a ship discharging 2,750 steel pipes on March 15. Offloading the pipes, each between 40 and 60 feet long, generated more than 1,300 work hours for stevedores and the International Longshoremen’s Association.

The port also forecasts a record-breaking quarter for lay-dockage revenue, with 83 ship calls this year to date generating almost $1.2 million. In 2019, a total of 377 ships docked short term at port berths for inspections, repairs, restocking and other services, earning the port $3.15 million in dockage revenue.

In other news, four Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise ships that homeport in Galveston will be berthed at cruise terminals 1 and 2 during a 30-day voluntary sailing suspension. The cruise lines implemented the suspension on March 13 in response to global pandemic concerns. No COVID-19 cases have been reported in association with these cruise ships or the Galveston waterfront.

Rees said that the port continues to coordinate and communicate with its multi-agency infectious disease response team, which includes representatives of local, state and federal agencies, on preparedness, prevention and response protocols.