Maritime in May

Fresh off the heels of National Maritime Day, Pasadena EDC would like to extend its gratitude and appreciation to the maritime workers at our neighbor, Port Houston, and other ports near and far. Specifically, as stated in Port Houston’s social media post, “... longshoremen, ship crews, tug pilots, crane operators, logistics teams, and many more who are part of the maritime community. Each one is essential …” 

The City of Pasadena is home to the second largest port in the United States, while it ranks number one in foreign tonnage. 

Pasadena and Port Houston 

The Houston Ship Channel begins in the City of Pasadena and ends at Port Houston. It encompasses over 200 private and eight public terminals, and continues to be the nation’s largest port for waterborne tonnage. To date, the Houston Ship Channel contributes nearly $62.8B in national tax revenue.

Pasadena and Port Houston’s relationship goes beyond neighborly love. With the City being so close to such a successful port, as usual in Texas, big things happen in big places.

Shared Infrastructure

Pasadena is the commerce artery to and from Port Houston. Its location also provides easy access to three major highways and a rail connection that facilitates the movement of goods to and from Port Houston facilities.

As Project 11 nears completion, Pasadena’s infrastructure will be enhanced as both the City and Port Houston rely on the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the Houston Ship Channel.

Economic Stability and Job Creation

Pasadena directly benefits from the massive economic impact generated by the success of Port Houston. Many Pasadena residents work for the port or in the Houston Ship Channel. The port offers many business opportunities and connections for Pasadena entrepreneurs and investors. Also, Pasadena’s largest and most important economic engine is the petrochemical complex. Because of its proximity to the port, the petrochemical complex benefits from importing raw materials and exporting finished products in a fraction of the average time.

National Maritime Day

Paraphrasing key points from The White House’s 2025 Proclamation, it was May 20, 1933, when Congress declared May 22 of each year as National Maritime Day to commemorate the first transoceanic voyage by a steamship. The completion of the 1819 journey by the S.S. Savannah “marked the start of American maritime excellence.” Since then, the partnership between the United States Merchant Marine and merchant mariners/civilian seafarers continues to play vital roles in America’s defense and economic strength.