Port of Houston back in operation

Port of Houston Authority facilities resumed normal operations at all terminals yesterday in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. PHA was granted U.S. Coast Guard clearance for all of its facilities late Wednesday and employees reported back to work yesterday. To accommodate its customers, PHA will open its Barbours Cut, Bayport and Turning Basin terminals on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 8 a.m. until noon, and 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Carnival Cruise's Conquest arrived at the Port of Houston Authority's new Bayport Cruise Terminal yesterday and disembarked 380 passengers. Today, Carnival's Ecstasy will disembark approximately 550 passengers.

These passengers opted to remain aboard the vessels following voyages that had departed Galveston prior to Hurricane Ike. Both Carnival's Conquest and Ecstasy vessels had been docked in New Orleans, where they were deployed following the closure of the Port of Galveston due to Ike.

PHA expedited the opening of its cruise terminal at Carnival's request.

PHA will operate Carnival's Conquest and Ecstasy cruise ships on Sept. 20-21, with 1,700 passengers expected on Saturday and 3,000 on Sunday. PHA has an agreement with Carnival to operate these vessels while the Port of Galveston recovery efforts continue. Yesterday, Galveston said its cruise terminal would be operational by October 1.