Houston Ship Channel deepening program takes another step forward

Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther presents the signed Project Partnership Agreement to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District Col. Timothy Vail,

A significant milestone in the history of the Houston Ship Channel was marked yesterday with the formal presentation of the Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Port of Houston Authority (Port Houston) for the channel’s billion-dollar widening and deepening program, Project 11.

The PPA is the official document committing Port Houston to the responsibilities of the project as the local non-federal sponsor. It details the terms of the channel infrastructure expansion, and most significantly, permits the start of dredging the federal waterway. Project 11 is the 11th major improvement of the channel in its more than 100-year history.

“Our port serves as the anchor for our Texas region,” said Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther. “It is a critical step to provide a wider, deeper channel that maintains two-way vessel traffic to more safely and efficiently deliver everyday goods and petrochemical products to and from the region. This expansion project will help us continue to lead as the top port in the nation, supporting over 3.2 million U.S. jobs—including more than 1.35 million Texas jobs—and bringing $802 billion in economic value to the nation.”

Project 11’s first dredging contract is expected to be awarded as early as this October.