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The grant comes from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) programme and covers 40 per cent of the $198 million project, according to a press release. Port Houston received the entire amount it requested and will share 60 per cent of the project's costs.

Port Houston will restore and strengthen 2,667 linear feet of wharf and 83.5 acres of yard space at its Barbours Cut Container Terminal.

The project will allow for larger ships and densification of container space and enable cargo volumes and international trade to continue to grow, reports Houston Business Journal.

"This funding support will help bring significant economic benefits to the region and nation while maintaining an efficient and safe movement of commerce to the US," Port Houston executive director Roger Guenther said.

Barbours Cut Terminal was built in 1975 and features 6,000 linear feet of wharf and about 390 acres consisting of container yards and support areas. The project will help the terminal meet current and future demand.

Port Houston is also expanding and improving its Bayport Container Terminal.

In March, Port Houston received over $21.8 million from the DOT's Port Infrastructure Development Programme to develop a wharf from 1,000 linear feet of green space at the Bayport Container Terminal. In September 2019, the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority approved adding three new Neopanamax electric cranes at the Bayport Container Terminal.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, container activity at Port Houston was down year over year in May, but year-to-date activity is still up slightly compared to the same time in 2019.

Port Houston handled a total of 222,250 TEU in May, compared to a total of 263,061 TEU in May 2019. So far this year, Port Houston has handled 1,216,877 TEU, slightly more than the 1,209,921 TEU in the same period last year. Total tonnage for May was down 14 per cent, with steel, breakbulk, bulk and grain all down compared to May 2019.

Port Houston is the largest container port along the Gulf Coast, handling more than 70 per cent of container cargo through the Gulf. In 2019, it was the fastest-growing of the top 10 container ports in the US.