Houston port closure to disrupt barge movements in key Texan ports

The Port of Houston has remained closed to all traffic after Hurricane Beryl passed.

PHOTO: Industrial operations in the Port of Galveston. Getty Images

The US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Coast Guard have conducted surveys to determine when it will be safe to reopen the port.

This closure is expected to hold up barge movements across several major Texan ports, including Freeport, Galveston, Texas City, Port Arthur and Beaumont, as well as Port Arthur in Louisiana.

The closure is likely to cause logistical challenges for bunker suppliers who rely on Houston as a central hub for their barge operations. While some barges are still operational in Lake Charles, Port Arthur and Beaumont, many others typically originate from the Houston area.

A few suppliers managed to load some barges before the closure. One supplier was attempting to reload its VLSFO barge ahead of the storm, but was unable do so in time, a source says.

There will be a rush to make deliveries once receiving ships return, he said, adding that he thinks this will be followed by significant delays as barges will need to reload simultaneously.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

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