Port of Texas City
Encyclopedia
The Port of Texas City is a major deepwater port in Texas City, Texas
at Galveston Bay
, United States
. Its location on the bay, which is used by the Port of Houston
and the Port of Galveston
, puts Texas City in the heart of one of the world's most important shipping hubs. the Port of Texas City was the 14th leading port in the United States by total tons of trade and as of 2007 it was the 87th leading port in the world, according to the American Association of Port Authorities
.
-flagged S.S. Grandcamp, docked at Texas City, triggered fires and explosions throughout the port and the industrial complex. The resulting destruction is considered by many to be the worst industrial tragedy in the history of the United States. The fires caused more than five hundred deaths, more than four thousand injuries, and more than US$50 million in damage (US$ million in today's dollars). In spite of the destruction the city was able to rebuild quickly and the port soon re-opened.
Texas City, Texas
Texas City is a city in Chambers and Galveston counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 41,521 at the 2000 census. It is a part of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
at Galveston Bay
Galveston Bay
Galveston Bay is a large estuary located along the upper coast of Texas in the United States. It is connected to the Gulf of Mexico and is surrounded by sub-tropic marshes and prairies on the mainland. The water in the Bay is a complex mixture of sea water and fresh water which supports a wide...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its location on the bay, which is used by the Port of Houston
Port of Houston
The Port of Houston is a port in Houston—the fourth-largest city in the United States. The Port is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located a few hours' sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico...
and the Port of Galveston
Port of Galveston
The Port of Galveston is the port of the city of Galveston, Texas. It was established by a proclamation issued by the Congress of Mexico on October 17, 1825, while the land known today as Texas was still part of Mexico...
, puts Texas City in the heart of one of the world's most important shipping hubs. the Port of Texas City was the 14th leading port in the United States by total tons of trade and as of 2007 it was the 87th leading port in the world, according to the American Association of Port Authorities
American Association of Port Authorities
The American Association of Port Authorities ' is a trade association, founded in 1912, that represents over 150 port authority organizations throughout the Western Hemisphere....
.
Traffic volume
In 2008, the total trade at the port was 52606030 short tons (47,723,387.6 MT) making Texas City the third leading port in Texas and the 14th leading port in the United States. it was also the 87th leading port in the world. Of that 33926630 short tons (30,777,721 MT) was foreign imports (7th in the U.S.), 4783805 short tons (4,339,794.9 MT) was foreign exports (27th in the U.S.), and 13895595 short tons (12,605,871.7 MT) was domestic trade (20th in the U.S.). In 2005, the total value of foreign trade shipped through the port was US$ (22nd in the U.S.). Of that the value of foreign imports was US$ (22nd in the U.S.) and the value of foreign exports was US$ (25th in the U.S.).Texas City Disaster
In 1947, an explosion aboard the FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-flagged S.S. Grandcamp, docked at Texas City, triggered fires and explosions throughout the port and the industrial complex. The resulting destruction is considered by many to be the worst industrial tragedy in the history of the United States. The fires caused more than five hundred deaths, more than four thousand injuries, and more than US$50 million in damage (US$ million in today's dollars). In spite of the destruction the city was able to rebuild quickly and the port soon re-opened.
See also
- Port of GalvestonPort of GalvestonThe Port of Galveston is the port of the city of Galveston, Texas. It was established by a proclamation issued by the Congress of Mexico on October 17, 1825, while the land known today as Texas was still part of Mexico...
- Port of HoustonPort of HoustonThe Port of Houston is a port in Houston—the fourth-largest city in the United States. The Port is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located a few hours' sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico...
- Texas City Terminal RailwayTexas City Terminal RailwayThe Texas City Terminal Railway is an American terminal railroad that operates of track at the Port of Texas City in Texas City, Texas. Established in 1921, the TCTR is jointly owned by the Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway....