The Port of Corpus Christi recently reported a new tonnage record of 79.3 million tons for the first nine months of 2018, which further supports the Port’s call for the US Army Corps of Engineers to move swiftly in the execution of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP).
The new record surpasses the previous one of 77.9 million tons set in the first nine months of 2015, while also eclipsing the same period in 2017 by 4 million tons, an increase of 5% year-over-year, reported the Port.
The Port also added that the increasing tonnage substantiates the Port of Corpus Christi’s call for the Army Corps to speed up the execution of the Corpus Christi Ship CIP, which includes dredging the ship channel from 47 feet to 54 feet and widening it to 530 feet, to accommodate larger vessels and allow for safer and more efficient traffic flows.
“ The record-setting tonnage supports the critical need for continued investment in infrastructure ,” said Charles W. Zahn, Jr., Port of Corpus Christi Commission Chairman . “ The Port of Corpus Christi takes pride in ushering in these developments in an environmentally responsible manner. This Channel Improvement Project absolutely will benefit the economy of the Coastal Bend, Texas, and the United States.”
According to the Port, these enhancements are designed to handle the growing export volumes of U.S. crude and natural gas, which have propelled the Port of Corpus Christi to what is now the largest energy export port in the U.S. by volume.