Sunday, April 5, 2015

WE WENT ON A CRUISE!

Saturday, April 4 – Well, sort of...... The cruise was on a small sightseeing boat to tour the Houston Ship Channel. This is a hard-to-get ticket, one we had to reserve weeks ago! We tried to sail last fall while here in Houston but were unable to get tickets....sold out! So we reserved a spot for today. What is the cost? FREE!

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Our ship.
Houston Ship Channel Tour

The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located just a few hours by ship from the Gulf of Mexico. The port is consistently ranked 1st in the United States in foreign waterborne tonnage; 1st in U.S. imports; 1st in U.S. export tonnage and 2nd in the U.S. in total tonnage. It is also the nation’s leading breakbulk port, handling 65 percent of all major U.S. project cargo. The Houston Ship Channel is 45 feet deep and 530 feet wide.

Houston Ship Channel Tour

As one of the world’s busiest ports, the Port of Houston is a large and vibrant component of the regional economy. A 2012 study by Martin Associates says ship channel-related businesses contribute 1,026,820 jobs throughout Texas, up from more than 785,000 jobs cited in a 2007 study. This activity helped generate more than $178.5 billion in statewide economic impact, up from nearly $118 billion. Additionally, more than $4.5 billion in state and local tax revenues are generated by business activities related to the port, up from $3.7 billion.

Houston Ship Channel Tour

Our daughter, Carrie, joined us for the trip. She's pretty familiar with this area because of where she works. Enterprise Products Partners LP is involved with oil pipelines, tank storage, and loading ships. Interestingly, she was involved with the emergency unloading of a Maersk tanker, Norwegian, that collided with another ship in the channel. Who would have guessed, those two ships were some of the first sights we saw on the cruise. How cool!

Houston Ship Channel Tour

Damage to the ship.
Houston Ship Channel Tour

The ship that did the damage. It didn’t go unscathed.
Houston Ship Channel Tour

Along the Houston Ship Channel lies the world’s second largest petrochemical complex and the nation’s busiest port in terms of foreign tonnage.

Houston Ship Channel Tour

The channel was pretty busy. We even had to cut our trip short by about a mile because of traffic. The cruise ship does not travel the entire length of the ship channel…only about half. Unfortunately, we turned around just before the Enterprise Products Partners LP yard, so we didn't get to see it. Carrie's office is in downtown Houston, but she's frequently in this area.

Houston Ship Channel Tour

Downtown Houston in the background.Houston Ship Channel Tour

Since we didn't get to see the Enterprise yard, after returning to land, Carrie drove us out to the area where they are constructing new oil holding tanks. These babies are huge! We were a little leery about driving around the area taking pictures. We kept expecting to be pulled-over by Homeland Security.

Houston Ship Channel TourHouston Ship Channel Tour

We enjoyed our cruise and recommend it to others when in the Houston area. Just be sure to visit their website and book your tour way ahead of time.

Houston Ship Channel Tour

If that wasn’t a big enough day, we went to one of Carrie’s favorite pubs to watch the NCAA Boy’s Basketball playoff games. Another full, fun day in Houston.

At the pub with Carrie.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day.

13 comments:

  1. You guys were sure lucky to have such a fine tour guide in charge for the day.

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  2. Man, oh Man...what a tour! And what a tour guide! Just can't go wrong with Carrie!

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  3. Sounds like a fun and very interesting tour. You wonder how two ships that large would run into each other. Not like they can't see each other:) I am sure the port is a crazy place with all the shipping that happens there.

    How nice that Carrie could join you and then give you a special private tour of what you missed. Good to know people in high places:)

    I'm sure watching the NCAA games was a lot of fun in the pub.

    Glad you are enjoying your time with Carrie:)

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  4. Looks like fun:) Back when I was stationed in Houston-early 70's-, having to ride on the ship channel was considered a punishment assignment:)

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  5. Looks like you had an Enjoyable tour of the channel.
    During my early career I had to repair damage to a couple of ships that found one another in the middle of Lake Superior. Not a pretty sight.
    Swap Shop is a cross between Import shops and Garage Sales. Not high on our rating list. Might scratch it off your's.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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  6. Now that looks fun. I like the little day cruises. You see a lot and leave the driving to someone else.

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  7. Wow, you find the neatest places with the best price. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Thats a wonderful cruise that you did and love the price too.

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  9. Great to have a daughter as your tour guide. Looks like a fun day. :)

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  10. Thanks for another fantastic and informative tour. It sure does look like a busy port. Nice that you got to see a little of where your daughter's work takes her. Seems like an interesting career.

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  11. Nice Tour! Will be driving through there soon car trip to Daughter in Florida follow me on Face Book. You both do more in one day then we doo all Year! LOL! Safe Travels!

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  12. I am so adding this to my list of things you Weavers have discovered in Houston that we Evans need to see and do. . .my goodness!

    This looks so interesting. . .

    I know you are loving the time with your girl. . .enjoy!

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