By JACOB LOPEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
PORT ISABEL – The Port Isabel-San Benito Navigation District is growing every day, and with it the opportunity for new jobs in the area.
On Monday, PISBND Port Director Steven Bearden said that the district, which was once largely responsible for shipping produce via rail line before eventually integrating to overnight truck delivery, is currently experiencing an influx of activity through various other facets.
“The (Canal/PISBND) Commission had decided back in about 2008, 2007 to try to change the focus of the port to try to be more cargo and offshore oil and gas industry-related,” Bearden said.
The director mentioned that Subsea 7 – responsible for construction at the district – has 100 employees currently working for PISBND. He added that Texas Pack Inc. provides also shrimp processing and storage and roughly employs 300.
Then there’s the heavy-lift vessel that recently unloaded 12 large natural gas engines weighing 315 tons each. Bearden says that these engines are headed to Edinburg for the construction of a new power plant.
Bearden then pointed to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection housing a Marine and Air Division headquarters in the area.
“So we have some activity,” said Bearden.
For the local economy, it’s activity that creates much-needed jobs.
“People that come in with those companies are looking for hotel rooms or permanent places to live,” explained Bearden.
Local officials hope these employees bring in sales to the local communities in the form of groceries, living quarters, dining and entertainment.
Furthermore, a large portion of these workers are made up of area residents.
“We’re just … trying to make jobs,” said Bearden.
Bearden further noted that over 80 percent of Subsea 7’s employees are from surrounding areas such as Brownsville and Port Isabel.
As for the SpaceX launch facility in Boca Chica, Bearden reminded that the site’s construction will have little impact on district operations. “Anything coming in there (Boca Chica area) is going to be coming into the Brownsville ship channel.”
Despite its close proximity to the district, transport to Boca Chica by truck is a 40- to 50-mile commute.
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