Caption: Bipartisanship and collaboration were on full display at the Project 11 Dredge Kick-Off Celebration event on June 1st, with the Port Commission, and Congressional, State, and Local delegations, leading the way.

Partnership, progress, and potential were on full display at the Port’s Project 11 Dredge Kick-Off Celebration on June 1^st. Over 200 stakeholders and elected officials gathered to commemorate the kick-off for the $1 Billion project hosted by Port Houston and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the USACE Galveston District Headquarters.

A joint effort across various federal, state, and local agencies helped bring Project 11 to life. The project received a major boost from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in January 2022 when $142 million was allocated to the project to help complete Segment 3, the Barbours Cut Container Terminal section. At 82% funded, Project 11 has received wide-spread support from a diverse group of elected officials and it’s on track to be completed by the end of 2025.

Ric Campo, the Chairman of the Port Commission delivered remarks to the crowd highlighting the partnership it takes to bring a project of such magnitude to this point. Chairman Campo also pointed to the potential and progress the project represents, citing that over 75% of the jobs sustained and created by the Houston Ship Channel are located in disadvantaged communities. Once completed, Project 11 will generate an additional $134 million annually in economic impact, equating to $367,123 a day in added benefits for the American worker and their families.

The newly retrofitted clean Dredge Carolina, owned by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, arrived to Galveston for the event. Dredge Carolina is equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction technology to significantly reduce NOx emissions, resulting in 38% cleaner than Tier 3 equipment. Lasse Petterson, CEO of Great Lakes Dock and Dredge Company, states “Dredge Carolina is one of the largest dredges in the United States. She is 340 feet long, 65 feet wide, and has about 16,000 horsepower.”

USACE Southwestern District Commander Col. Kenneth N. Reed stressed how important Project 11 is for the Galveston District and the District’s higher headquarters. “As the federal agency that maintains and constructs much of the nation’s public infrastructure, the Army Corps of Engineers continues to work with Port Houston on one of the most impactful infrastructure projects nationwide.”

The work of widening and deepening the Houston Ship Channel will have tremendous positive economic, safety, and environmental benefit for the entire nation. To learn more, visit www.expandthehoustonshipchannel.com.

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ study of potential improvements to the Houston Ship Channel is nearing completion. The study, that began in 2015, has been conducted in partnership with Port Houston and has examined the feasibility and national benefits of various widening, deepening and other improvements for the channel. This will be the eleventh major improvement project to the waterway over its century and a half history.

As the local sponsor of the waterway, maintaining and improving the Houston Ship Channel is the top priority for Port Houston. The improvements being studied seek to ensure that the waterway safely continues to accommodate the growth of commerce in the greater Houston region. “We hope to make this a model project for the nation,” said Port Houston Chief Port Infrastructure Officer Rich Byrnes.

The improvements are needed as soon as possible, so Port Houston is working with the Corps, Congress, the administration as well as many local partners and stakeholders to expedite the approval and funding of this major project. The project is expected to cost one billion dollars, and port officials would ideally like the project to begin construction within the next few years.

“Through commitment and principles learned from our predecessors, and working together… our forward momentum is accelerating,” said Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther.

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Port Houston welcomed Major General Scott Spellmon, deputy commanding general for civil and emergency operations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and his staff for a briefing and tour of the public and private terminals on the Houston Ship Channel.  

The Major General and Corps representatives met with Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther and Channel Development Director Mark Vincent, who discussed the Houston Ship Channel, project economics and Hurricane Harvey impacts.

Port Houston is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a mega-study evaluating the feasibility of modifying the Houston Ship Channel, including widening and deepening of the waterway and other improvements.

Houston’s energy, security and infrastructure makes the channel one-of-a-kind with more than 190 public and private facilities along it.

“Shoaling on the Houston Ship Channel impacts not only shipping, marine operations and navigation, but it also affects our stakeholders, American consumers and the economy,” said Vincent.

Port Houston works closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to facilitate commerce and maintain navigation of the channel. Sediment control is of significance for resiliency efforts in light of future storm and flood events.

“Ships are getting larger,” Vincent noted. “Planning for future improvements is key, and we want to make sure we have the adequate consideration for the mitigation of potential risks. We continue to work with the Corps to model the mega-study to meet the needs of the waterway.”

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The Gulf Coast Chapter of the Western Dredging Association (WEDA) conducted its annual meeting Nov. 16 at the Hotel Galvez in Galveston, marking the first time the event has been held outside of New Orleans. The chapter represents the Gulf States of Texas, Alabama, Florida (West Coast), Georgia (Western), Louisiana and Mississippi. Over 180 industry professionals attended, including Port Houston’s channel development department.

The meeting provided a forum for the exchange of information of interest to the dredging industry and its associates, partners and stakeholders. Representatives from all areas of the industry, including regulatory, resource agencies, contracting and manufacturing attended to discuss dredging economics, benefits, technologies and current issues.

“This conference brought the big picture of the entire Gulf region and gave our port an opportunity to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on more placement options for non-federal dredged material,” said Mark Vincent, director of channel development for Port Houston. The information presented provided the audience a full scope of Corps’ federal responsibilities along the Gulf Coast and an overview of the agency’s dredging program, noted Vincent.

This year’s event was merged with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Galveston District’s annual dredging meeting. The American Association of Port Authorities contributed updates on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and legislative matters related to ports and harbors.

“We are thrilled to bring the annual WEDA meeting to Texas as there are numerous maintenance and new work dredging projects around the Houston-Galveston area. This was one of WEDA’s largest events with a diverse mix of international attendees,” said Maxie McGuire, 2016 President WEDA Gulf Coast Chapter.

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