IN AN UNSUNG MANNER, the Port of Texas City has played a major role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As one of the few industries that has not been negatively impacted by the virus – which has killed more than 10,300 Americans as of Monday afternoon – the port continues its business-as-usual manner.
“Given that we supply so much of the United States with our shipments, I’m glad that we are still functioning,” said Port of Texas City General Manager Jason Hayley. “People are still going to need diesel and gasoline, and we’ll continue to keep things moving.”
The port pulled out its pandemic plan and quickly began to take steps toward protecting the employees of the nation’s 15th largest port.
Perhaps the biggest change came last week when the United States Customs and Border Protection cut the movement of seafarers, who are now limited to their respective boats during their time in Texas City.
“It’s something of an inconvenience, but I completely understand the government’s position,” said Hayley. “More than 95 percent of the seafarers who come in are international, so no one wants to take the risks that come with those numbers.”
The COVID-19 directives for vessels from the CDP, Centers for Disease Control and the United States Coast Guard requires that non-passenger commercial vessels, with no sick crewmembers, will be permitted to enter into the United States and conduct normal operations, albeit with restrictions. Vessels will be able to continue to receive provisions and supplies through their agents via supply boats and placed on board by crane..
Restrictions aside, the port has kept its numbers on par. For now, the employees of the port are not in any considerable risk, but contingency plans are place in the event the port were to have a scenario that saw many of the workers impacted with infection.
