Port of Galveston to funnel BMWs through island port

GALVESTON – The Port of Galveston’s governing board approved a series of contracts totaling $1.3 million for work to ready the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics vehicle-processing center by January 1, 2016.

The vehicle-processing center is underway at Pier ten and promises to funnel thousands of new BMWs through the island port and potentially attract the attention of other automakers.

Security grants will pay about $390,000 of the $1.3 million and Wallenius will reimburse the port for capital costs on the project during a ten-year period.

The processing center will import more than 32,000 BMW and MINI vehicles a year. Workers at the facility will perform vehicle inspections, mechanical repairs and accessory installation.

The vehicle-processing center will consist of 44,000 sf in two buildings. The $11 million facility is expected to create 35 jobs.