Neo-Panamax vessel Hoegh Target calls Port Freeport.
FREEPORT, TX – The Port celebrated the first Neo-Panamax vessel to call Port Freeport. The Motor Vessel Hoegh Target was successfully piloted into Port Freeport on the evening of September 14. Executive Director/CEO Phyllis Saathoff and Port Freeport Commission Chairman Ravi Singhania boarded the Hoegh Target with the pilots on its journey into the Port.
A maiden voyage plaque was presented to Captain Shi and his crew recognizing its first call to Port Freeport. While presenting the plaque, Chairman Singhania expressed his appreciation to Hoegh for their business and to the Harbor Pilots, Captain Burns and Captain Teeter, for their excellent piloting of the vessel. Chairman Singhania said, “It is indeed a historic day for our Port, to welcome the arrival of the first Neo-Panamax vessel that has travelled through the expanded Panama Canal.” CEO Phyllis Saathoff added, “It is a BIG beautiful vessel! We are proud to have a vessel of this capacity enter our Harbor.”
Port Freeport presents a maiden voyage plaque.
The MV Hoegh Target is the world’s largest Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) with a carrying capacity of 8,500 car equivalent units. It is offering up to 6.5 meters of free deck height, 12 meters of ramp width and capacity to take cargo weighing up to 375 tons. The Hoegh Target is the first of six Post Panamax vessels that will become part of Hoegh Autoliners fleet. Matthew McKown, Head of Sales for Hoegh stated “We look forward to growing our footprint in Port Freeport and will continue to strive to deliver the best in service for our customers.” Hoegh and their Terminal Operating Division, Horizon Terminal Services came to Port Freeport in 2015, establishing a state of the art facility that exports Texas built General Motors automobiles and the import of both Buick and Chevrolet vehicles manufactured in Korea. Hoegh has created numerous jobs for residents of Brazoria County. Realizing that Hoegh would soon be our long-term partner in both the growth of their business and the expansion of Port Freeport, we rapidly began improvements to our terminal facilities. “We converted over [25] acres into an Original Equipment Manufacture terminal with over 6,500 vehicle parking spots. Over 100,000 square feet of Port Freeport’s warehousing capacity has been converted into a first-class vehicle processing center,” stated Chairman Singhania.
Port Freeport is ranked among the Nation’s top 35 ports. The Channel serves Dow Chemical, Phillips 66, BASF, Tenaris, Vulcan Material, Mammoet, Freeport Liquefied Natural Gas, American Rice, Dole, Chiquita, Seaway, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Hoegh Autoliners.
