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Vol. 9, No. 9 February 2025

Honoring a Legacy

USS John F. Kennedy Makes Final Voyage to Port of Brownsville

The decommissioned USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) entered the Brownsville Ship Channel on Sunday, Feb.2, closing a chapter of naval service and beginning a new one at International Shipbreaking Ltd.

Clear skies and fair weather welcomed spectators gathered along the shores of South Padre Island’s Isla Blanca Park on Feb. 2, to bid farewell to the storied USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) as she entered the Brownsville ship channel for dismantling and recycling at International Shipbreaker Ltd.


Commissioned in 1968 and decommissioned in 2007, the JFK served the U.S. Navy with distinction for nearly four decades. Among those present to see the vessel’s final journey was Harlingen resident Richard Makowiec, a former sonar technician who served six years in the Navy. While acknowledging the bittersweet nature of the occasion, Makowiec emphasized the importance of repurposing the vessel’s high-quality steel.


"The Port of Brownsville is important as the destination for ships of this quality. The steel that was used was high quality and the workforce down here is highly skilled. As hard as it is to say, I would rather see her cut up and reused in other projects rather than sitting at the bottom of the sea," said Makowiec.


The Port of Brownsville has earned a reputation as the premier site for the recycling of retired U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and warships. Home to three major ship recycling facilities, the port accounts for over 85 percent of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Maritime Administration ship recycling market that creates hundreds of good-paying jobs to the Rio Grande Valley.

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Watch the Port of Brownsville's coverage of the arrival of the USS John F. Kennedy now.

From left to right: William Dietrich, Port of Brownsville Director and CEO; César Jiménez, Ternium México President; Esteban Guerra, Brownsville Navigation District Chairman; and Ricardo Prosperi, Ternium Global Trade President; at the Brownsville Navigation District Boardroom, Jan. 27, 2025.

Port of Brownsville Lauded as Hub for International Trade by Ternium

The Port of Brownsville continues solidifying its reputation as a leader in international trade and logistics, proudly celebrating its longstanding partnership with Ternium, a leading steel producer in the Americas and long-term port customer.


On Monday, Jan. 27, Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra presented Ternium with a plaque to commemorate the company’s commitment and contributions to the port. Ricardo Prosperi, Ternium’s Global Trade President, and Cesar Jimenez, president of Ternium de Mexico, received the distinction "Charting a Course to Success".


"The Port of Brownsville proudly recognizes Ternium for its longstanding business relationship with the port, which spans over 30 years," said Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra. "We take pride in fostering partnerships with innovative and international companies like Ternium, whose commitment to excellence and sustainability aligns with our goal of creating sustainable industries that support good-paying jobs and contribute to the economic vitality of our region."


Ternium is a leading steel producer in the Americas, manufacturing and processing a broad range of steel products using the most advanced technology while servicing the construction, automotive, energy, and household appliances industries. The company operates facilities in multiple countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and the United States, among others.

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Courtesy of Texas A&M University


The South Texas Workforce Development Project at the Port of Brownsville, a new Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service facility.

TAMU Announces $27M for Workforce Development Project at the Port

Texas A&M University is targeting a long-term commitment to in-space research on the International Space Station under a proposal approved today by the Texas A&M University System’s Board of Regents.

 

The Board authorized President Mark A. Welsh III to negotiate a contract with AEGIS Aerospace, which would allow Aggie engineering students to conduct in-space experiments.

 

In other action, the Regents approved $27 million for the South Texas Workforce Development Project at the Port of Brownsville. This new Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service facility will focus on advanced manufacturing training to prepare the local workforce for in-demand jobs, supporting economic growth across the Rio Grande Valley. Construction is set to begin in April 2025.

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Port Abilities: Seizing the Day at the Port of Brownsville

Seizing the day, the M/V Carpe Diem delivered close to 3,000 metric tons of aluminum billets to the Port of Brownsville while longshoremen from Dix Shipping ensured a smooth unloading of cargo. The billets will be used to support the construction industry.


ABOUT PORT ABILITIES

Port Abilities is a video series produced by the Port of Brownsville highlighting the seamless capabilities of the port's marine terminals serving industries worldwide.

BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS


Esteban Guerra

Chairman


Sergio Tito Lopez

Vice Chairman


John Reed

Secretary


John Wood

Commissioner


Ernesto Gutierrez

Commissioner

PORT OF BROWNSVILLE ADMINISTRATION


William Dietrich

Port Director & CEO


Port Administration


Contact Us:

Ph: 956.831.4592 / 800.378.5395

Fax: 956.831.5006

www.portofbrownsville.com

CALENDAR

February 14 

Valentine’s Day


February 17

Presidents Day- Port offices closed


February 19

BND Board Meeting


February 22-March 1

Charro Days Festivities


February 24-26

NAFTZ Legislative Summit 2025


February 25-26

2025 SelectUSA Mexico Conference

Vote Scheduled for Union Members to Ratify ILA Master Contract

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Exchange have each approved the tentative contract agreement reached last month for the dockworkers at U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. With these steps in place, the contract will be presented in the next two weeks to the rank-and-file followed by a vote scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 25.



Speaking in front of the union’s Wage Scale Committee and more than 200 delegates, ILA President Harold Daggett said, 'I believe it is the greatest ILA contract, and the greatest contract negotiated by a labor organization."

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