Channel Improvement Project

Strategically located near major United States oil and gas production areas, including the Eagle Ford Shale and the Permian Basin, the Port of Corpus Christi is a premier logistics partner and prime gateway for a secure and efficient supply of energy to the world. As energy exports increase, so do the sizes of the ships that carry it—so it’s imperative that the channels are able to safely accommodate these deep-draft vessels.

The Channel Improvement Project will widen the channel to 530’ and deepen to 54’, increasing the capacity for crude oil trade and maintaining energy security on a national level—marking the U.S. as the world’s premier energy producer.

The project signifies a major milestone in the history of this country, making the Port of Corpus Christi:

  • The deepest draft channel in the Gulf of Mexico
  • America’s largest exporter of crude oil, at nearly 1B barrels annually
  • A major component in reducing the nation’s ballooning trade deficit

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded Texas-based Callan Marine, Ltd. $97.9M for Contract 2 of the project, to deepen and widen the channel from Harbor Island to 2.7 miles past the La Quinta Junction.

Estimated completion for this phase is mid-2022, with improvements to Ingleside by fourth quarter of 2021.