Port of Galveston

Located on the upper Texas Gulf Coast on the eastern end of Galveston Island, it is from the open Gulf or approximately 30 minutes sailing time. The port is municipally owned by the City of Galveston and is managed by the board of trustees of the Galveston Wharves. The port is self-sustaining, and does not receive any taxpayer funding. In 2015, the eastern section of the port, ending at Pier 38, was dredged to a depth of . Siltation occurred at a faster than expected pace, requiring more dredging in 2016. The western part of the port will be dredged from a depth of to , at a cost of $12–15 million. To accommodate cruise ships, the area where the ships turn around is routinely dredged every four years. ==History==

During the late 19th century, the port was the busiest on the Gulf Coast and considered to be second busiest in the country, next to the Port of New York and New Jersey. In the 1850s, the port of Galveston exported approximately goods valued almost 20 times what was imported. The main export was cotton. They built a grain elevator in 1875, leading Galveston to become a major grain exporter over the next few decades. By 1878, the port of Galveston was the nation's 3rd largest cotton exporter; they fell to 5th by 1882. Galveston's wealth and great esteem was due in large part to the port's activity. The nearby city of Houston was able to better attract industry and began positioning themselves as a viable alternative to Galveston. By the time World War I began, Galveston "was the leading cotton port in the world, the third-largest exporter of wheat, and an important sugar import center." Later that decade, the port of Galveston became a major sulphur exporter. As the oil industry expanded in Texas, no pipelines were built to Galveston. Over the next 16 years, the port invested more than $85 million to build and improve facilities to accommodate these ships. Princess declined to sail from Galveston after the 2007 season. Both Princess Cruises and Disney Cruise Line stationed ships in Galveston for the winter season in 2012–2013. Later also the passenger port of Galveston is prepared to welcome the arrival of Norwegian Prima (cruise ship from Norwegian Cruise Line), because Norwegian Prima will begin sail in Atlantic Caribbean route begin October 2022 departing from Galveston. ==Cargo==

with CRANDIC markings on the CRANDIC at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The port is equipped to handle all types of cargo including containers, dry and liquid bulk, breakbulk, RO/RO, refrigerated, and project cargoes. The Galveston Railroad, a terminal switching railroad, facilitates movement of cargo by rail. Del Monte uses one wharf to import bananas. ==Passengers==

As of 2019, Galveston is the fourth-busiest cruise ship homeport in North America Over the years, the port has welcomed ships from major cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Cruises account for approximately 60% of the port's revenues. Unlike other cruise ports in the United States, the port of Galveston can be affected by fog, particularly in late December, January, and February. This can delay the ships' return to port. Beginning in 2014, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission began collecting taxes from returning cruise passengers on any alcohol and cigarettes they had purchased onboard or in foreign ports. ==Other revenue streams==

Much of the port's profit comes from parking fees. In February 2016, the port completed construction on the Galveston Downtown Transit Terminal. Designed to "connect the port to the city itself", the facility contains a shopping center and parking. == See also ==