HOUSTON, June 28, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Port Commission of The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) approved proposals for up to an additional $5 million in construction work to the Bayport Container and Cruise Terminal, up to $1.6 million for maintenance dredging of Woodhouse and Sims Bayou berthing areas and more than $70,000 in port security improvements, including an amendment of the Public Information & Emergency Response (PIER) System, at its regular June 26 meeting.
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda G11) The Commission authorized amendment of the PHA's professional services contract with Dannenbaum Engineering Corporation for Bayport Terminal Complex Phase I Wharf and Dredging Design, for an increase of $480,891. Anticipated size of vessels and projected cargo volumes requires the expansion of the planned Berth 3 Wharf to provide berthing space for longer ships.
(Agenda K2) The Commission approved advertisement and receipt of competitive sealed proposals for Bayport Cruise Terminal shoreline stabilization at an estimated cost of $180,000 to $200,000.
(Agenda K6) Commissioners approved advertisement and receipt of competitive sealed proposals for Bayport Marine Gate Expansion, Stage 2 -- Civil and Electrical at an estimated amount of $2 million to $3.975 million.
WOODHOUSE/SIMS BAYOU MATTERS
(Agenda K7) The Commission approved advertisement and receipt of competitive sealed proposals for maintenance dredging of Woodhouse and Sims Bayou berthing areas in the estimated amount of $1.1 million to $1.6 million.
SECURITY MATTERS
(Agenda G10) Commissioners amended the professional engineering services contract with TSC Engineering for secured truck entrance at the Turning Basin, for the increased amount of $34,875.
(Agenda G12) Commissioners approved renewal and amendment of the PHA's subscription license agreement for AudienceCentral's Public Information & Emergency Response (PIER) System for Crisis Communications in the amount of $36,000. Under the PIER System, which uses a web-based "virtual communications center" platform accessible anywhere to any authorized user, PHA is able to assist its emergency management of internal and external communications with PHA commissioners, employees, tenants, contractors, residential and industrial neighbors, government agencies, elected officials, news media outlets and other key stakeholders. Commissioners are being asked to authorize increasing the number of licenses from three to four so that the PHA Port Police Department may use this system to coordinate and enhance efficient communications.
This news release is not a substitute for the official PHA agenda. To view the complete agenda, please visit http://portofhouston.com/publicrelations/meetings.html
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The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 7,000 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and 10th largest in the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com
Members of the public who wish to speak at a Port Commission meeting will be asked to sign in at the 4th floor lobby area. They may speak when the Chair calls on them during the appearances portion of the agenda and their comments will be limited to three minutes. The public comment protocol is available on the PHA Web site, at:
http://portofhouston.com/publicrelations/meetings.html
To access the port's web site photo gallery, please visit http://www.portofhouston.com/publicrelations/publicrelations.html and click the link for PHA Photo Gallery.