Port Houston confirms deal to upgrade ship channel

The Port of Houston has announced a widening and deepening program for the Houston Ship Channel, recognised with a formal presentation of the Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) between the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Port of Houston Authority (Port Houston).

The PPA is the official document committing Port Houston to the responsibilities of the so-called Project 11 as the local non-federal sponsor, which details the terms of the channel infrastructure expansion and permits the start of dredging the federal waterway.

“It is a critical step to provide a wider, deeper channel that maintains two-way vessel traffic to more safely and efficiently deliver everyday goods and petrochemical products to and from the region,” said Port Houston Executive Director, Roger Guenther.

The 83-meters-long Houston Ship Channel constitutes a significant economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the US, and once widened and deepened, it is estimated that will benefit more than 200 private and public facilities alongside it.

Project 11 is the 11th major improvement of the channel in its more than 100-year history and its first dredge contract is expected to be awarded by October.