Port of Corpus Christi’s $139m channel expansion contract awarded

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co LLC has been tapped to construct the third phase of a landmark expansion of the Port of Corpus Christi ship channel in South Texas.

The US Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $139 million contract to the dredging service provider, which is tasked with extending the ship channel west of the La Quinta Junction through the Chemical Turning Basin in the port’s Inner Harbour.

The Channel Improvement Project (CIP) is being completed in four phases. “The economic benefits associated with this project are vital to the region,” said army corps Galveston District commander col Tim Vail.

“The Port of Corpus Christi is already responsible for more than 98,000 regional jobs, and the completion of this channel improvement project will lead to additional jobs, allowing for increased funding into community reinvestment initiatives. The enhanced channel will also improve safety and efficiency by allowing two-way traffic, and a safer passthrough for deep-draft vessels,” added Vail.

Great Lakes completed the first phase of the CIP in March 2020, deepening and widening the waterway from the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) to Harbour Island.

Callan Marine Ltd is working on phase two, which would expand the channel from Harbour Island to 2.7 miles past the La Quinta Junction. This phase includes Ingleside, which is the home to three large crude export marine terminal operators: Buckeye Partners LP, Moda Midstream LLC and Flint Hills Resources.

Enbridge Inc earlier this month touted the Ingleside terminal’s efficient infrastructure when it announced a $3 billion transaction to buy Moda.

The port has provided $161.5 million for its portion of the total project cost share, while the US government has appropriated $296.3 million.

“Advancing the third phase of this historic initiative in developing critical coastal navigation infrastructure reinforces our nation’s importance in serving the global energy markets, and certainly solidifies the Port of Corpus Christi’s position as the largest energy export gateway in the United States,” said port CEO Sean Strawbridge.

The port’s total tonnage in the first half of the year yielded a 4.7 percent increase over the same period in 2020, largely because of a 72 percent year-on-year increase in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, a 42 percent increase in agriculture commodities and a 3.6 percent increase in crude oil exports. The third phase of the CIP is expected to be completed by June 2023.

For more information visit www.portofcc.com