The Port of Corpus Christi has finished a major expansion of its ship channel, wrapping up an eight-year, $625 million project that will allow larger ships to move goods in and out more efficiently.
Federal, state, and local leaders gathered at the port on June 2 to celebrate the milestone. The project deepened the Corpus Christi Ship Channel from 47 to 54 feet and widened it from 400 to 530 feet. The upgrades also added barge shelves to improve safety for both barges and ships.
“This accomplishment is only possible because of the steadfast support and cooperation of our non-federal partner, the Port of Corpus Christi,” said Col. Rhett Blackmon, Commander for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District. “In collaboration, we were able to deliver one of the largest beneficial use projects in the history of our district.”
The project started in 2017 after decades of planning. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contributed about $450 million, with the Port of Corpus Christi investing $180 million. The improvements are expected to save more than $200 million a year in transportation costs by allowing larger ships to move more cargo in fewer trips.
“This is probably the most significant thing the port has done,” said Kent Britton, CEO of the Port of Corpus Christi. “When I got here, we’d started saying we were the energy port of America. When you see what’s happened in the succeeding eight years, it truly is humbling, and it’s humbling to be able to lead this organization.”
The port is now the nation’s largest crude oil export gateway and the third largest in the world, moving over 2.4 million barrels a day. It’s also the second-largest U.S. hub for liquefied natural gas exports.
The project has improved the local economy, helping to attract more than $65 billion in private investment to the region over the past decade. Port-related activity now supports about 95,000 jobs across Texas.
“My fellow Commissioners and I are grateful to the Administrations and Congressional delegations who supported this initiative, as well as the Port of Corpus Christi staff – past and present – who worked diligently to make this vision a reality,” said David Engel, Chairman of the Port of Corpus Christi Commission. “This commitment represents what can be achieved when we work toward a common goal: driving prosperity at home and strengthening America’s leadership in the evolving global market.”
