*Clarification: This blog clarifies information included in a previous post about the Bayport channel dredging published on 1/11.

After two-plus years of deepening and widening the Bayport channel, most of the major construction dredging at the Bayport Ship Channel has been completed.  Maintenance dredging remains to be done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers near the entrance of the Bayport channel. That work is needed to connect the dredged area done by the Port of Houston Authority’s contractor, Orion Marine Group, with the Houston Ship Channel.

The Bayport Channel is currently being deepened to match the depth of the Houston Ship Channel. The project will improve navigational safety and enable the large class of post-Panamax vessels to call at the Bayport Container Terminal.

Although the Orion dredging is complete, the Corps of Engineers has the responsibility to finish the final maintenance dredging sweep before they accept Bayport as a 45 ft. channel. Separately, a contract was awarded by the Corps to dredge the Bayport Flare area.

Ongoing investment in the improvement of the Houston Ship Channel is critical to ensure that the Houston port region continues to capture its share of economic prosperity delivered because of maritime commerce. The channel is critical to the nation’s energy security as Houston is home to the second largest petrochemical complex in the world.