Turning Basin

The Turning Basin Terminal is a multipurpose complex of 37 wharves located only eight miles from downtown Houston. This is the navigational head of the Houston Ship Channel, just 52 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. These docks are equipped to handle just about any type of breakbulk, containerized, project or heavy-lift cargoes. This terminal also is equipped for handling large, odd-shaped cargoes, long-term project cargo and vehicles.

Wharf 32 is specially designed for handling project and heavy-lift cargoes and is a $10.8 million state-of-the-art freight handling facility. It has a 1000 pound per square foot load capacity. Its 806 linear feet of berthing space and 20 acres of paved marshaling area offer sufficient space for heavy-lift or project cargo of all types. Freight handling can be done by shippers, consignees or their agents. The facility is spacious enough to accommodate just about any large shipment. The project water depth alongside Wharf 32 is 38 feet.

Every wharf at the Turning Basin, except Wharves 1 through 4, is served by rail. The Port Terminal Railroad Association provides switching service Burlington Northern-Santa Fe and Union Pacific. More than 150 truck lines serve the Turning Basin, which is located just five miles from I-10 and I-45.

The Manchester Terminal is a liquid bulk facility on 15.5 acres under lease to Oxid L.P., Westway Terminal Company, South Coast Terminal, and Velero. The facility's two docks are 500 feet and 570 feet, and the water depth is 36 feet. The security and access requirements for Manchester can be found here.

Direct discharge and loading are possible using either rail cars or trucks. Berths are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, rather than preferential berthing, and the average turnaround time for a ship at the terminal is two to three days.

Nearby, the 200-acre Industrial Park West provides facilities for container marshaling, consolidation and storage of steel, and servicing and distribution of automobiles. The 115-acre Industrial Park East is also close by and provides paved and unpaved storage area, as well as storage shed space.

Security and access procedures for this terminal can be found here.

Tariff: Port of Houston Authority Tariff No. 8

Bridge Clearance: 135 feet above mean high tide.

Maximum Vessel Length: 750 feet (228 meters).

Wharf Load Capacities: From 400 to 1,000 pounds per square foot (2 to 4.9 metric tons per square meter).

Height of Docks: 12 to 16.5 feet (3.7 to 5 meters) above mean low tide.

Equipment: One 40-ton (40.6 metric ton) container crane; mobile truck cranes up to 300 tons available for rent from private companies; lifting capacity in excess of 500 short tons can be obtained by special arrangement.

Truck and Rail Service: The Port Terminal Railroad Association directly serves the facility with regular interchanges with Burlington Northern-Santa Fe and Union Pacific. Almost 150 motor freight lines serve the Port of Houston and this facility has easy access to Interstate 10 and Interstate 45 via the 610 East Loop, Port of Houston exit.

Hours of Operation: Normal hours are 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Contact:
Managing Director
713-670-2435 phone
713-670-2697 fax

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