DATE: September 18, 2008 2:00 p.m. (CST)

PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY NOW FULLY OPERATIONAL

PHA's new Bayport Cruise Terminal opens

HOUSTON - Port of Houston Authority facilities resumed normal operations at all terminals Thursday, September 18 in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. PHA was granted U.S. Coast Guard clearance for all of its facilities late Wednesday, September 17 and employees reported back to work Thursday, September 18. 

To accommodate its customers, PHA will open its Barbours Cut, Bayport and Turning Basin terminals on Saturday, September  20, from 8 a.m. until noon, and 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Carnival Cruise's Conquest arrived at the Port of Houston Authority's new Bayport Cruise Terminal Thursday, September 18 and disembarked 380 passengers. Friday, September 19, Carnival's Ecstasy approximately 550 passengers disembarked.  These passengers opted to remain aboard the vessels following their respective voyages. Both Carnival's Conquest and Ecstasy vessels were docked in New Orleans, where they were deployed following the closure of the Port of Galveston due to Hurricane Ike. PHA expedited the opening of the cruise terminal to facilitate the request of Carnival Cruise.

PHA will operate Carnival's Conquest and Ecstasy cruise ships on September 20-21, with 1,700 passengers expected on Saturday, September 20 and 3,000 on Sunday, September 21.  

PHA has an agreement with Carnival to operate these vessels while the Port of Galveston recovery efforts continue.

For more information, please go to the PHA Web site, www.portofhouston.com, or Carnival Cruise Lines' Web site, www.carnival.com.