The Port of Corpus Christi in Texas is marking a major milestone in US maritime infrastructure with the near-completion of its long-anticipated channel improvement Project.
This transformative initiative deepens the ship channel to 54 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), enhancing the port’s capacity as a leading US energy export hub.
The four-phase Channel Improvement Project (CIP) has been funded through a partnership between the US Congress and the Port of Corpus Christi, with critical support from the US Army Corps of Engineers and private marine contractors.
First envisioned over 30 years ago, the CIP was designed to meet growing demand for larger, more efficient vessels to transport crude oil, liquefied natural gas, and other vital commodities.
The project deepens the channel from 47 to 54 feet and expands its width from 400 to 530 feet, enabling safer and more efficient two-way vessel traffic. Construction officially began in 2017, backed by a US$625 million investment.
Strategically located near the resource-rich Permian Basin and Eagle Ford Shale, the Port of Corpus Christi is already the nation’s top crude oil export hub and ranks third globally, handling over 2.4 million barrels per day.
It is also the second-largest US LNG export terminal and a key node for the export of petrochemicals, refined fuels, and agricultural products.
