The Port of Galveston marked a major milestone in its cargo operations July 2 with the opening of a new 1,410-foot cargo berth at Pier 39-40, welcoming its first vessel as part of a $106 million expansion project aimed at boosting freight capacity, jobs and economic growth.
The first ship to call at the new berth was the Wallenius Wilhelmsen cargo carrier MS Toledo, which delivered hundreds of pieces of heavy construction equipment from Brazil and countries in the Far East. The equipment will be transported by truck to destinations across Texas and the central United States. Union workers then loaded heavy construction and agricultural equipment destined for Brazil and Australia.
The berth is the centerpiece of a cargo facility expansion that began in 2024 and was completed this year. The project also included enclosing two outdated slips, filling one slip to create additional acreage, repaving and repairing cargo handling areas, and demolishing a decommissioned grain elevator. The improvements will add nearly 30 acres to the port’s cargo complex, with plans for an additional six-acre expansion in a future phase.
Port officials said the project represents the first significant investment in cargo infrastructure at the port in decades and was driven by increasing demand from cargo tenants. Funding came from port operating revenues and a $36 million grant from the Texas Department of Transportation.
The Port of Galveston handles approximately 3 million tons of cargo annually, including roll-on/roll-off shipments and large wind turbine components. Cargo activity at facilities along Galveston Harbor supports nearly 20,000 jobs and generates an estimated $6.5 billion economic impact statewide.
Port leaders said the expanded cargo complex will position Galveston for future growth while strengthening supply chains and creating additional employment opportunities across the region.
Texas Reporter 