Port Houston held an event on Oct. 8 to celebrate the completion of the Port Houston-led segments of Project 11, the Houston Ship Channel expansion project.
The project widened the channel from 530 feet to 700 feet, and created bird islands, oyster reefs and marsh habitat with the dredged material. Widening the channel improves efficiency and safety and strengthens the ability to support growing trade and economic activity. It also reduces the need for oversized ships to wait on berth or at anchor to sail.
“I’ve spent much of my career working on the Houston Ship Channel, and Project 11 is especially meaningful to me,” Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins said. “I remember when this project was still an idea and we were figuring out how to make it happen. Now, ships are moving through a wider, safer channel because our team, the Army Corps, industry, and elected leaders found a way to get it done. To see that progress firsthand is something I’m incredibly proud of.”
The project is a collaboration among Port Houston, industry partners, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and elected officials. Port Houston and industry partners agreed to help pay for the project, subtracting years off the delivery timeline.