Port Houston and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have completed dredging work for the Houston Ship Channel Expansion, known as Project 11. The project widens the Galveston Bay section of the 52-mile channel from 530 feet to 700 feet, improving two-way vessel traffic and navigational safety.
The dredging phase covers the reach from Bolivar Roads to Morgans Point and marks the largest section completed under Port Houston’s management. Construction began in 2022 and focused on increasing capacity for larger vessels transiting one of the busiest waterways in the United States.
Project 11 enables larger containerships, including 15,000- to 17,000-TEU vessels, to safely access Bayport Container Terminal. The wider channel also allows daylight-restricted ships an additional two and a half hours of daily movement, easing congestion and improving scheduling flexibility for inbound and outbound operations.
Environmental work continues as dredged material is used to build beneficial-use features such as marshland, bird islands, and oyster reefs. When complete, the program will add roughly 10 acres of bird habitat, 276 acres of marsh, and 324 acres of reef area.
Port Houston used Tier 3 and Tier 4 dredge engines and scrubbers to reduce emissions by up to 7 percent. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will lead remaining deepening and restoration work through 2029.