Port Hosting Big Maritime Day Event May 22 at Cruise Terminal 16

Port Hosting Big Maritime Day Event May 22 at Cruise Terminal 16

May 7, 2026

GALVESTON, TX (May 18, 2026) – The Port of Galveston will commemorate National Maritime Day with a free public event 8:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, May 22, at Cruise Terminal 16, 1602 Harborside Dr., Galveston Sponsored by Moody Bank, the event will include vessel tours, maritime-related booths and a commemoration ceremony at 10 a.m.

Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, said, “The port has recognized the contribution of mariners on Maritime Day for almost 20 years. We invite everyone to attend and take advantage of this rare opportunity to learn more about maritime careers and the maritime industry.”

Exhibitors will include a Gulf Copper, Galveston Seafarers Center, Galveston Naval Museum, Galveston Wharves, Port of Galveston Police Department, Orion and Visit Galveston.  

The ceremony will include the port police color guard, a memorial wreath, maritime remembrances and guest speakers.  Keynote speaker will be Col. (Ret.) Michael E. Fossum, vice president, Texas A&M University; chief operating officer, Texas A&M University at Galveston; and superintendent, Texas A&M Maritime Academy. Col. Fossum will speak about the importance of maritime careers and the need for workers to support the growing maritime industry.

Galveston College President Dr. W. Myles Shelton will speak about maritime-related careers and skills training at Galveston's public community college.

About Galveston’s National Maritime Day 

The Galveston Wharves at the Port of Galveston has commemorated National Maritime Day with an annual public event for almost 20 years to recognize and remember all who work in the maritime industry. Congress declared May 22 as National Maritime Day in 1933.

Rees said, “We recognize the contributions of those who work in the maritime industry, and in particular merchant marines, to strengthen the U.S. economy and secure our nation.”

The maritime industry supports a wide range of businesses and jobs, including ship pilots, ship crews, barge and tugboat crews, union workers, shipping stevedores, onshore cruise staff, truck drivers, railroad workers, construction workers, ship builders, administrative staffs and many more.

Rees said, “Thanks to the generous support of presenting sponsor Moody Bank, a long-time community partner, we’re able to make this year’s event the biggest yet. We encourage the community to join us for this special day.”

About the Port of Galveston

Located at the entrance to Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, the Port of Galveston has been a thriving maritime commercial center since 1825. Just 45 minutes from open seas, the 840-acre port has infrastructure and assets to serve growing cruise, cargo and commercial businesses. 

The port is the fourth busiest cruise home port in the U.S. The port also leases and maintains a wide range of cargo facilities on the deep-water Galveston Harbor, which is ranked among the top 40 busiest U.S. cargo waterways. The Galveston Wharves is a self-sustaining city entity whose mission is to generate and reinvest port revenues to benefit the Galveston community with economic growth, jobs and sales tax revenues. www.portofgalveston.com

CONTACT: Kathy Thomas, Port Communications Director, kathy@communitystrategiesllc.com