Freeport Harbor deepening moves forward

The Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement Project, set to further deepen the channel to authorized depths of 51-56 feet – making Port Freeport the deepest port in Texas, is moving ahead.

“Along with Two Super Post Panamax cranes arriving later this year, a deeper channel will enable Port Freeport to market the Port to a wider range of global vessels, expand capacity and customer base and potentially attract new liner services with larger vessels,” the officials said in the latest project update.

The project also includes enhancements to the upper turning basin, selective widening of the channel and lower channel bend easing, making it easier for modern ships to navigate.

Since the current channel is not designed to handle the larger vessels that are in service today, a deeper channel will enable Port Freeport to market the Port to a wider range of global vessels, expand capacity and customer base and potentially attract new liner services.

The Freeport Harbor Channel was deepened to its current depth of 46 feet in the early 1990s.