WASHINGTON: The MV Grande Sierra Leone recently unloaded the first shipment of automobiles at Port Houston’s former Bayport Cruise Terminal, which has been converted for other use after failing to catch on as a port of choice for travelers. The ship, which belongs to the Grimaldi shipping line, delivered 428 Fiat 500X vehicles Nov. 30. Auto Warehousing, which has signed a three-year lease with the port for use of the terminal, handled the shipment, according to Port Houston.
Port Executive Director Roger Guenther announced the shipment during the port’s Tuesday meeting and told commissioners the “operation went seamlessly.” Also during Tuesday’s meeting, port commissioners voted to rescind the tariff that covers cruise operations at the port authority’s terminals. The tariff repeal goes into effect Jan. 1. The $108 million, bond-funded Bayport Cruise Terminal was completed in 2008.
