\u201cThis vessel would not have called Port Houston facilities without the expansion of the Panama Canal,\u201d Guenther said. \u201cWe were able to handle this business due to the investments we have made in deepening and widening the Bayport channel, as well as investments in the equipment capable of handling this class of ship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis historic operational performance eclipsed the previous record by 650 moves on one ship,\u201d Guenther added. \u201cThis very productive rate was due to the diligent efforts of Port Houston operations personnel, our stevedoring partners, and the labor we rely on each day.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Port Houston operating revenues of $179 million set two monthly records during the first half of 2018; a revenue record was set in March and then was broken again in May, with revenue reaching more than $32 million. Guenther also reported that each sector of Port Houston\u2019s business experienced revenue growth in the first six months, led by volume increases in its container business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n During the meeting, Guenther stated that Port Houston\u2019s steel trade continued to show strength, and in import pipe in particular; overall steel cargo totaled 2.1 million tons, reflecting a growth of 21 percent compared to the same period last year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Guenther noted leadership\u2019s and staff\u2019s commitment to reinvest revenues generated from Port Houston facilities in the continued development and improvement of all its terminals, including Bayport, Barbours Cut, and general cargo terminals. This commitment was further demonstrated by staff recommendations on the meeting agenda for Port Commission approval of more than $70 million in capital project awards and advertisements. One particularly significant item later approved by the commission was a $49 million construction contract to build Container Yard 7 at Bayport Container Terminal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of nearly 200 private and public industrial terminals along the 52-mile-long Houston Ship Channel.<\/p><\/div>\n During the meeting, Port Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria congratulated Guenther for being recognized by the Houston Business Journal as one of Houston\u2019s \u201cMost Admired CEO\u2019s\u201d. She noted that the honor was particularly important because Port Houston employees submitted the nomination for Guenther to be considered for the recognition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.findadistributor.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-08-at-07.49.04.png\")