Maintaining Channel Depths an Expensive, Non-Stop Job

By Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO

Maintaining federally authorized depths and widths in Galveston Harbor is the lifeblood of the Port of Galveston and private operations. The channel must be continuously dredged at a cost of millions of dollars a year to remove the silt that dramatically reduces depths in both federal and non-federal portions of the channel.

Galveston Harbor is ranked among the top 40 busiest cargo waterways in the nation based on tonnage. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the federal portion in the center of the channel, 13.5 million tons of cargo moved across public and private docks on the channel in 2022, ranking it 38th among U.S. ports and waterways.

Private operations accounted for almost 10 million tons, with port cargos making up the balance. Cargo movements on the harbor translate to billions of dollars in revenues and thousands of jobs for our region and state.

But that lifeblood is restricted without adequate federal funding to maintain channel depths. While the ship channel is federally authorized for a depth of 46 feet, it has been dredged to full depths and widths for only 6 months out of the last 12 years due to underfunding at the federal level.

This can constrain deep-draft ships, business growth and jobs.

Federal Funding Gap for Dredging

As the non-federal sponsor for harbor maintenance, the Galveston Wharves is a strong advocate for the interests of all harbor operators and stakeholders and participates with the Corps in planning and coordinating dredging operations.

To protect and grow the tremendous economic benefits related to cargo and cruise operations, the port, private operators and the Corps will continue to seek more funding for harbor dredging to mitigate shoaling.

There's a big gap between what's needed to maintain channel depths and what's funded by the federal government. For the 2025 budget cycle, we asked for a much-needed $48 million but received only $13 million for annual maintenance dredging.

As local sponsor, we contribute significant local match funding and staff resources to advocate for our region's fair share of federal funding to maintain our harbor. Since 2011, the port has invested more than $15,643,525 in local matches.

We've also have pledged almost $2 million for dredging of the west end of the channel past port-owned property to benefit private operators.

Strong Support for Funding

Earlier this year, the port, along with leaders from the Texas Legislature, the city of Galveston, Galveston-Texas City Pilots Association, the International Longshoremen's Association, TAMUG, G & H Towing, Texas International Terminals, and more, beseeched Army Corps of Engineers leadership in Washington, D.C., to move urgently to dredge the harbor, particularly the west end past port property.

I'm hopeful that our decision-makers in the state and U.S. capitals realize the huge return on investment that maintaining critical waterways like the Galveston Harbor generate and allocate more funding to maintain our channels.

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