Milestone for Corpus Christi ship channel
The port of Corpus Christi has marked the near-completion of its extensive ship channel improvement project.
Once finished, the channel will reach a depth of 16.5 m and a width of 161.5 m, enabling safe two-way navigation for larger vessels. The project, launched in 2017 and jointly financed by the US government and the port authority, represents a total investment of USD 625 million.
It is designed to accommodate the rising demand for deepsea energy shipments from the Gulf coast. According to the port the improved infrastructure is expected to generate transport cost savings exceeding USD 200 million annually.
The port, near the Eagle Ford Shale and Permian Basin, has attracted more than USD 65 billion in investments over the past decade. Today, it ranks as the USA’s leading crude oil export hub and the country’s second-largest LNG export gateway. (ah)