May 2025 Meeting: Port Houston Announces $131 Million in USACE Workplan Designated for Houston Ship Channel Construction and Maintenance

On Tuesday, May 20, the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority met for its regular monthly meeting. Chairman Ric Campo opened the meeting with an update that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released their FY25 workplan, which includes $33 million allocated to the Houston Ship Channel Expansion, known as Project 11, construction and $98 million to operations and maintenance to keep the Houston Ship Channel dredged.

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“Thank you to everyone who pulled together to get this done, including our industry partners, customers, congressional delegation, and specifically Congressman Wesley Hunt and Congressman Brian Babin who worked around the clock to make sure we got what we needed,” said Chairman Campo.

Project 11 Updates & Operations Highlights

Port Houston reported strong volumes in April, which can be found in more detail via the press release issued on May 19. Operations reported nine blank sailings forecasted over the next six weeks at the container terminals. Despite this, Port Houston remains cautiously optimistic, noting that the number is significantly lower than during previous periods of market uncertainty, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was also announced that the USACE approved the federal Assumption of Maintenance (AOM) for Segment 1B of the Houston Ship Channel (Redfish Reef to Bayport Terminal), in addition to Segment 1C (Bayport to Barbours Cut Ship Channel), which was approved in 2022. This marks the successful conclusion of a nearly five-year group effort and with these approvals Port Houston will save a net present value of nearly $380 million over the next 50 years. The organization is on track to complete the dredging activities in Segment 1C by late Q2/early Q3 2025, completing the Port Houston-led portions of Project 11 dredging. Completion of Galveston Bay beneficial use features is scheduled for Q4 2025.

As it relates to maintenance at the public terminals, Port Houston commissioned 20 clean diesel yard tractors at Barbours Cut Terminal and Bayport Terminal, removing 20 outdated, less efficient tractors from service. The organization is also actively collaborating with TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation), Houston Pilots and PSEO (Port Security and Emergency Operations) to temporarily improve air draft markings on the Interstate 610 bridge.

Additional Meeting Updates & Announcements

Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins highlighted the Maritime Museum’s upcoming grand opening at their new location next to Port Houston’s Administrative Building at East River. Port Houston will be a sponsor for the new space.

Chairman Campo also congratulated the 2025 maritime program graduates, noting that Port Houston’s maritime education program and ongoing partnerships with industry and area schools and universities further bolsters the port’s talent pipeline and contributes to the future maritime workforce.

The Port Commission meets next on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

About Port Houston

For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel, including the area’s largest breakbulk facility and two of the most efficient container terminals in the country. Port Houston is the advocate and a strategic leader for the Channel. The Houston Ship Channel complex and its more than 200 private and eight public terminals is the nation’s largest port for waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the U.S. The Port of Houston supports the creation of nearly 1.5 million jobs in Texas and 3.37 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling $439 billion in Texas and $906 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the website at PortHouston.com.

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