The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority held its regular monthly meeting last month, highlighting the Port-led Project 11 completion, early planning for a potential Project 12 channel expansion, and progress on the proposed Barbours Cut North Expansion Project.
At the meeting, Chairman Ric Campo reflected on the recent celebration marking the completion of the Port-led segments of Project 11 and emphasized the need to continue investing in the Houston Ship Channel’s future.
“We have an extraordinary economic engine here in Houston, and we have a responsibility to help ensure it can continue supporting jobs and economic prosperity for generations to come,” said Campo.
Also at the meeting, Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins announced Port Houston will move forward with its own study for portions of a potential Project 12, the next major improvement to deepen the Houston Ship Channel. It will do so under Section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. This work will be in parallel with the Port’s partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on a traditional feasibility study for improvements to the broader Houston Ship Channel and Galveston Bay system.
In October, Port Houston and the USACE held a Federal Interest Determination meeting, beginning a 45-day process that will result in a recommendation on the Project 12 scope of study.
Port Houston also continues to evaluate options to accommodate the additional container capacity the region is projected to need over the next decade. As part of this early-stage planning, the USACE held a public scoping meeting for a potential expansion north of Barbours Cut Terminal onto Spilman Island, and Port Houston hosted Permitting Council Executive Director Emily Domenech for a site tour to provide firsthand context.
The potential expansion remains one of multiple options under consideration and would require a formal Final Investment Decision by the Port Commission before advancing.