Ryan Fisher, the second highest ranking civilian in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, visited the greater Port of Houston Aug. 21.

The visit highlighted the national economic impact of the Port of Houston and how the region’s employers and manufacturers rely on the Houston Ship Channel, a federal waterway.

“The Houston Ship Channel is a national asset,” said Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther. “The channel supports the top U.S. port in foreign waterborne tonnage and is critical to the nation’s exports and energy security.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining and improving the Houston Ship Channel in partnership with the Port of Houston Authority, which serves as the local sponsor of the waterway.

Also in attendance was Enterprise Products Partners’ Chief Executive Officer Jim Teague and the Houston Pilots’ Presiding Officer Mark Mitchem, who provided industry perspectives on the importance of the waterway.

Enterprise Products has the largest ethane export port facility in the country located on the Houston Ship Channel. The Port of Houston has the largest petrochemical complex in the nation. The Houston Pilots are the professionals who navigate deep-water vessels into and out of the Port of Houston.

Port Houston staff highlighted the port’s recent terminal investments, petrochemical exports, Asian import growth and wharf cranes. The Corps officials also took a Port of Houston fireboat tour and visited Enterprise Products’ Hydrocarbons Terminal.