Galveston Harbor Channel Improvement Project

The Galveston Harbor Channel is utilized by the Port of Galveston. The Port of Galveston is a unique port in that much of their traffic is both cargo ships and cruise ships, handling at a rate of about 68 percent and 32 percent respectively. The port receives over 4.1 million short tons of cargo and almost 1 million cruise passengers annually. Besides cruise passengers, the port handles many different types of cargo including containerized cargo, grain, fertilizer, liquid, steel, fruit, livestock, roll-on/roll-off cargo, and project cargo (wind). The port has more than doubled its operating revenue in just four short years to $43.5 million. The port is responsible for the creation of 13,892 jobs and $2.3 billion in economic impact.

Improving the channel is an important action to take to keep the Galveston Harbor competitive in the industry. Deepening the harbor will allow for larger vessels to enter the channel, allowing for greater efficiency and output. The increased number of vessels and volume will result in greater economic impact for the local area and the state of Texas in addition to increased tax revenue at the local, state, and federal levels.