Port Houston Completes Project 11 Dredging

Port Houston announced the completion of port-led dredging for expanding the Houston Shipping Channel, also known as Project 11, on October 27.

All remaining work is now in the hands of the Corps of Engineers, which partnered with the port on the project.

Proposed in 2010, work on Project 11 began in 2022 as a joint effort between Port Houston and the Corps of Engineers to expand the shipping channel and widen the port’s opportunities for growth. According to the Port of Houston’s website, Project 11 is expected to reduce transportation costs, increase channel efficiency, safety and maneuverability, develop environmentally suitable dredged material placement and reduce shoaling hot spots. The project is broken into multiple segments spanning the 52 miles of the Houston Ship Channel, from the Texas City Channel to Galveston Bay.

The expansion is predicted to be a major source of growth for the surrounding community as well as the port. According to a draft study by The Perryman Group, the first segment is expected to bring in $60.95 billion to the state of Texas by 2040, as well as 440,665 jobs. The channel already boasts $906 billion in annual economic activity.

The channel through Galveston Bay – from Bolivar Roads to Morgans Point – has been widened from 530 to 700 feet, allowing larger vessels to safely enter the port and drastically reducing vessel traffic and congestion, according to the port. The port is involved in approximately 200,000 barge transits every year, as well as 18,000 deep-draft vessel transits. Vessels between 15,000 and 17,000 TEU can now safely call at Bayport Container Terminal, and daylight-restricted vessels have an additional two and a half hours to transit both in and out of the port, making two-way traffic more efficient and flexible, according to Port Houston.

The Houston Pilots revised national safety guidelines in light of the progress made on Project 11. Port Houston predicts that all vessels making their way through the port will benefit from these revisions, including LPG carriers, oil and product tankers, container ships and bulkers.

“We commend the incredible Port Houston team, our bipartisan federal and local delegations and our industry and federal partners for their collaboration and capacity to see clearly the importance of this vital gateway to our nation and ensure its ability to safely sustain and grow international trade,” Port Commission Chairman Ric Campo said. “This collaborative achievement is truly a testament to the hard work of all the individuals involved in the project and reminds us of the importance of the Houston Ship Channel to the nation.”

According to the Corps of Engineers, Port Houston handles approximately 12 percent of the nation’s total waterborne tonnage, making the Houston Shipping Channel the busiest waterway in the United States. The waterway supports 3.37 million jobs and more than 200 public and private facilities, including eight public terminals.

The project has also been contributing environmentally. According to Port Houston, all useable dredged material will ultimately be used to construct 10 acres of bird islands, 276 acres of marsh and 324 oyster reefs. Vessel nitrogen oxide emissions are also expected to reduce from 3 percent to 7 percent as transit times improve and larger vessels can be accommodated.

All remaining work by the Corps of Engineers is expected to be completed by 2029.