The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a nearly $98 million dredging contract to Texas-based Callan Marine for the second phase of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel deepening and widening project. 

The project will increase the channel depth from 47 feet to 54 feet and also widen the channel to channel to 530 feet in order to facilitate the navigation of larger tankers.

This second phase contract award follows the completion of Contract 1, which Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company completed on time in March 2020, deepening and widening the CCSC from the Gulf of Mexico to Harbor Island. 

Contract 2 will deepen and widen the Corpus Christi Ship Channel from Harbor Island to 2.7 miles past the LA Quinta Junction and includes Ingleside where three large crude export marine terminal operators – Buckeye Partners, Moda Midstream, and Flint Hills Resources – will directly benefit.

“This contract is vital for us to continue the deepening and widening of the existing Corpus Christi Ship Channel. The work will improve energy product transportation throughout at the Port of Corpus Christi by allowing larger vessels more efficient access, which will boost the economic competitive advantage and energy security of the United States for decades to come,” said Colonel Timothy Vail, USACE Galveston District Commander.

The Trump Administration’s proposed fiscal year 2021 budget included over $100 million in the USACE Civil Works Division for Coastal Navigation Construction for the project. To date the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project has already received nearly $150 million in federal appropriations, and the Port of Corpus Christi has accelerated an additional $150 million of its own cost share portion capital to progress the project.

“We are extremely appreciative of the Army Corps of Engineers for acknowledging the strategic national importance of executing the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project,” said Sean Strawbridge, Port of Corpus Christi Chief Executive Officer. “As the largest export gateway for U.S. produced energy destined for global demand markets, a deeper and wider ship channel will solidify the competitiveness of American energy on the world stage.”

For the project, Callen Marine will utilize its newest and largest dredger, the General MacArthur, which expected to be mobilized from Galveston to Corpus Christi in the next few weeks.

“Our mission is to provide top tier dredging services through quality performance, competitive pricing, safe work, and professional relationships,” states Maxie McGuire, President of Callan Marine. “This award is particularly special to us because it demonstrates faith in the Callan brand and our years of experience. We are honored to partner with the US Army Corps of Engineer’s Galveston District and the Port of Corpus Christi on this project.”

Estimated completion for this phase of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project is early 2022, with improvements to Ingleside by fourth quarter of 2021.