While the Port of Galveston made headlines with the opening of its fourth cruise terminal in 2025, this year it will celebrate another port milestone — completion of major improvements at the West Port Cargo Complex, writes Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO.
Located on Galveston Harbor, one of the nation’s busiest cargo waterways, the port moves more than 3mt (million tonnes) of general and breakbulk cargoes, including roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) and giant wind turbine pieces a year.
Hundreds of cargo ships call at the complex to move cargo across port docks, generating thousands of jobs and economic growth for the region.
For the first time in decades, the port is investing $106 million to improve dilapidated waterfront infrastructure, add acreage for cargo handling and extend berthing space. This will allow port tenants to move more cargo through the area and put more people to work on the waterfront.
The phased work began in 2024 with funding from a state grant and port operating reserves, largely from cruise revenues. Follows an update on progress:
- Pier 38/39: the port-funded work includes enclosing and filling an outdated slip. The port built a closure structure which will double as a berth beginning in 2026. The slip will be filled with dredge materials beginning in January and completed within the year. The fill will need to settle for a period before the area can be used for cargo laydown.
- Pier 40/41: this project includes another slip closure structure and berth extension project. It is funded with a state grant and port operating reserves. The slip closure structure and berth infrastructure will be completed by mid 2026. The slip will be filled in a future phase.
- Pier 39-40 berth: along with slip closures, this rehabilitation project makes it possible for the port to complete a 1,434ft-long berth extending from Pier 38/39 to Pier 40/41. Designed to accommodate 46ft-draught ships, the berth will be commissioned in the second half of 2026.
- Pier 41 paving: six acres at Pier 41 has been repaved to repair failed subgrade and concrete paving. Now that the giant holes are gone, the area is fully usable for cargo handling.
- Grain elevator demolition: the port demolished a decades-old, decommissioned grain elevator to add more acreage for cargo handling. The berth and some acreage are being used now for cargo ships. The area will be completely cleared for cargo use in 2026.
This is the first time in decades that the port has made an investment of this size in our docks. These master plan projects demonstrate the Port of Galveston’s commitment to a diversified revenue stream and jobs growth.
The investment puts the port on the cusp of a new era of cargo growth for Galveston. For the first time in decades, the Galveston Wharves and its partners can develop the cargo business to its full potential, generating hundreds of new jobs and tremendous economic growth for the region.
About the port
Located at the entrance to Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, the Port of Galveston has been a thriving maritime commercial centre for more than two centuries. Just 45 minutes from open seas, the 840-acre port has infrastructure and assets to serve growing cruise, cargo and commercial businesses.
The port is the fourth most popular cruise home port in the US. The port also leases and maintains a wide range of cargo facilities on the deep-water Galveston Harbor, which is ranked among the top 40 busiest US cargo waterways. The Galveston Wharves is a self-sustaining city entity whose mission is to generate and reinvest port revenues to benefit the Galveston community with economic growth, jobs and sales tax revenues.
The Port of Galveston is one of the busiest cargo ports in Texas, typically moving more than 4mt of cargo a year, including roll-on/roll-off, dry bulk, liquid bulk, general and project cargoes. Facilities at the port include:
- 840 acres.
- 24 berths.
- 307 acres available for development.
- 20,000 linear feet of developed waterfront.
- 46-foot authorized channel depth.
- one turning basin with 37-foot depth and widths up to 1,500 feet.
- 45 minutes from open seas.
- 10 minutes from Interstate 45.
- Rail: 2 Class 1 rails and one short line.
- Foreign Trade Zone #36.
- West Port Cargo Complex.
- State-certified internal police department.