Back and Better than Ever
The Port of Galveston returns to cruising with new safety and sustainability initiatives.
With cruising coming back, cruise ports around the United States are getting ready to welcome back travelers, and the Cruise Port of Galveston, Texas, is doing just that. The popular port worked on creating a safer environment for both workers and travelers, making big changes to the port and adding new terminals.
About eight months ago, Port of Galveston created an employeeled Safety Committee in charge of building and rolling out a successful program to strengthen the port’s safety culture. Since then, the committee established clear objectives to create a culture that prioritizes safety, develop a safety policy statement, provide a safe working environment for all employees and provide appropriate safety training.
To reinforce safety, the committee implemented an observation card program. Employees are trained to complete the cards when they observe someone working safely or stop work if it is being done unsafely. The committee reviews the observation cards monthly to identify emerging trends.
On Aug. 14 the Port of Galveston, the fourth-most popular cruise port in North America, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of Royal Caribbean International’s new $125 million cruise terminal.
“This new cruise terminal is a game-changer. This much-anticipated project will bring 800 new jobs, $1.4 billion in local business services revenue, $5.6 million in state and local taxes, and incredible business development opportunities,” emphasized Rodger Rees, port director and CEO, Galveston Wharves.
This, the third cruise terminal built by Royal Caribbean, is expected to be completed in fall 2022. The project will generate an estimated 400 Texas construction jobs and 400 local operations jobs.
As well as new terminals and safety procedures, the Port is focusing on becoming more environmentally friendly. From improving air quality to reducing waste, Galveston is identifying impactful ways to make long-term changes to improve the environment. Led by Green Marine, the initiative will focus on using more renewable energy, creating a Green Building to meet LEED certification standards, switching from diesel fuel to clean-burning natural gas and adding new waste reduction initiatives including recycling and other programs.
Galveston Wharves recently earned Green Marine environmental certification, a program which addresses key environmental issues through 12 performance indicators that include air emissions, spill prevention, greenhouse gases, environmental leadership, waste management and more. Galveston is the second port in Texas to make changes and participate in the program.
‘THIS NEW CRUISE TERMINAL IS A GAME-CHANGER. THIS MUCH-ANTICIPATED PROJECT WILL BRING 800 NEW JOBS, $1.4 BILLION IN LOCAL BUSINESS SERVICES REVENUE, $5.6 MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES, AND INCREDIBLE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.’ — RODGER REES, PORT DIRECTOR AND CEO, GALVESTON WHARVES