As the local sponsor of the Houston Ship Channel, Port Houston is responsible for facilitating commerce and maintaining navigation. Below you will find information about channel improvements as well as soundings and hydrographic surveys of port facilities.
Beneficial use of dredge material building levees at Placement area 15
Dredge Linda LaQuay Dredging the Bayport Ship Channel
Aerial shot of dredging at Bayport
Soundings Maps of Terminals:
Turning Basin City Docks:
Care Terminal:
Bayport Container Terminal and Channel:
Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Channel:
Jacintoport Terminal:
Sims Bayou Terminal:
Woodhouse Terminal:
Houston Ship Channel Expansion:
As the local sponsor of the Houston Ship Channel, Port Houston has been planning the next major improvements to the Houston Ship Channel working in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Congress and channel industry stakeholders. The federal government approved a “mega study” in 2014 to examine improvements to the waterway including widening through Galveston Bay, deepening some areas to 45 feet, as well as other safety and efficiency benefits. The study is in its final stages and will end with a report from the Corps’ Chief of Engineers to Congress on these various improvements. Congress will then consider these improvements in the Water Resources Development Act, legislation that approves and modifies Corps projects throughout the country.
New economic realities and rapid growth are putting pressure on the Houston Ship Channel system today and critical improvements are necessary to ensure safe two-way vessel traffic and maintain economic benefits to the nation now and into the future. Increasing U.S. energy production and petrochemical manufacturing are growing jobs and exports. Additionally, the global maritime industry is experiencing growth in terms of the size of vessels facilitating greater efficiency and cost-effective supply chains. On top of this significant growth, the Houston Ship Channel is the busiest deep-draft waterway in the nation with roughly 22,000 deep-draft vessel transits each year and more than 200,000 barge movements.
Learn about the Houston Ship Channel Expansion Project and what Port Houston and industry are doing to expedite its completion here.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Channel Soundings:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides periodic updates of its hydrographic surveys to the public. Read more.
