Houston Republic

One of the world’s largest ports continues moving forward in improving and widening the channel.

The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority held its inaugural meeting for 2021 noting the Houston Ship Channel Improvement Program, or Project 11, achieved two remarkable milestones. The program received a new start designation, and $19.5 million in federal funds were included in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2021 work program to support its work to widen and deepen the channel.

According to a news release, Project 11 was subsequently authorized for the Water Resourced and Development Act – a part of the legislative package passed in December.  

Port Chairman Ric Ocampo recognized the efforts of the Port Authority staff and the Houston Ship Channel partners, including industry stakeholders and federal officials.

“The significance of this appropriation is tremendous, as it paves the way to a clearer and smoother path to the start of construction,” Campo said in the release.

Executive Director Roger Guenther also highlighted the achievements made by the commission in 2020.

According to Guenther's report, Port Houston handled 2.99 million 20-ton equivalent units despite the challenges made by the pandemic. He also said that the port sees a bright future as public container terminals had a rapid start this year. He said that the port's "pent-up demand" by carriers to help larger vessels to the port and to complete Project 11.

Port Houston handles more than two-thirds of containers in the U.S. Gulf Coast and has been operating for more than 100 years. It ranks sixth in the U.S. in container port volume and is the U.S. Gulf Coast's dominant container port. It has created 1.35 million jobs in Texas and 3.2 million jobs across the country. 

It also supports Texas' total economic activity of $339 billion or 20.6% total gross domestic product with a nationwide economic impact of $801.9 million.