Business and Industry
Containers
Velasco Terminal at Port Freeport
Velasco Terminal is a multipurpose terminal serving Container, RORO and Multi-purpose vessels. Velasco Terminal has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past two decades and by 2026 will have the deepest container terminal on the U.S. Gulf Coast with a 51-foot draft.
During 2024, Port Freeport handled over 116,000 TEU at the container terminal. Dole Fresh Fruits, Chiquita Foods and Del Monte Fresh Produce provide weekly services to and offer the shortest direct transit time from Texas to Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica in Central America. RORO Carriers such as Grimaldi Lines, Hoegh Autoliners, Hyundai Glovis and NYK Group use this additional infrastructure to support their operations. Port Freeport continues to focus its business development efforts to attract additional liner services to Velasco Terminal.
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Velasco Terminal Expansion
Container operations take place at Berth 7 and 8 at Velasco Terminal. The terminal has over 1,800 linear feet of berth, two post-panamax ship to shore gantry cranes, and over 20 acres of yard space suitable for container storage. Port Freeport continues to pave the container terminal and will add two super post-panamax gantry cranes during 2025. With a depth of 51 feet and cranes suitable to discharge and load some of the largest vessels operating today, Port Freeport is poised to grow its container volumes offering carriers and shipper an alternative cost-effective route to deliver their goods to the Texas market and beyond.
In June of 2024, Del Monte Fresh Produce relocated to Port Freeport after having installed 688 reefer plugs on the container terminal. The Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement Project that deepens and widens the channel to depths ranging from 51’-56’ MLLW will be completed this year in time for the Port’s 100th anniversary. Once completed it will be the deepest channel on the Texas Gulf Coast.
Expansion of the terminal continues into the immediate surrounding area. In 2023, Port Freeport completed the acquisition of a contiguous 100-acre parcel adjacent to Velasco Terminal. The port is focusing development of this parcel to modernize gate access to the terminal, truck queuing areas and cargo marshalling areas to create a more efficient operation for users of the terminal. A new 80,000 square foot refrigerated cross-dock warehouse will be completed in March 2025 to serve our tenants’ transloading needs.
Labor
Union labor, provided by the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Non-union Labor are available on Velasco Terminal. Ports America, Red Hook Terminals, Gulf Stevedoring Services, APS Stevedoring and Gulf Stream Marine are just a few of the companies licensed to provide stevedoring services at Port Freeport. The Port is sincerely thankful to the hardworking men and women that keep its operations running safely and efficiently while collaborating with our tenants to meet the needs of our mutual customers.
Dole is proud of our strong partnership with the Port of Freeport, which has enabled us to grow our customer base and make Texas and the Central U.S. region a healthier place. Through these operations, our exceptional team can provide the highest standards in customer service. We look forward to continued growth and deepening our positive impact on the Freeport community in the years ahead.
Nelson Montoya
