USACE awards contract for next phase of Port of Brownsville’s ship channel deepening project

GALVESTON, Texas – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District has awarded a $104 million contract to Galveston-based Callan Marine, Ltd., to deepen the Brazos Island Harbor Ship Channel at the Port of Brownsville.

The Port of Brownsville is a deepwater seaport in Brownsville, at the southernmost tip of Texas. Opened in 1936, the port is connected to the Gulf of Mexico by a 17-mile-long ship channel. 

With approximately 40,000 acres, the Port of Brownsville is also the largest land-owning public port authority in the nation. 

The Port’s mission is “to be a leader in business development by providing state-of-the-art infrastructure expansion, economic opportunities, the best transportation facilities, and the highest standards of public administration.”

USACE and the Port of Brownsville will be deepening the ship channel by ten feet, to a new authorized depth of 52 feet for a 13-mile segment. 

Work is scheduled to begin October 2024 with an estimated completion date of June 2026. 

Esteban Guerra, chairman of the Brownsville Navigation District, said the project will result in “significant navigational safety improvements for commercial shipping in South Texas.”

The contract with Callan is for Phase 2 of a two-part project. Phase One of the dredging project is being handled and financed by NextDecade LLC. The company plans to build a liquefied natural gas export terminal at the port. Phase Two is being handled by the Corps of Engineers, with the federal government and the port financing the project. The total project may cost is expected to be upwards of $300 million.

“The deepening of the Brownsville Ship Channel is a monumental project that will set the Port of Brownsville on a strong path for the future,” said Port of Brownsville Director and CEO William Dietrich. 

“This investment ensures that the port remains a critical player in the global supply chain, supporting sustainable growth for diverse industries. Our partnership with the USACE and NextDecade LNG on the BIH project further solidifies the port’s commitment to advancing our position for the betterment of our region and the communities we serve.”

Callan Marine is a family-owned dredging business founded in 2009. 

“We believe in relentless improvement in efficiency and effectiveness, guiding our fleet expansion and service lines. Every member of the Callan Marine team contributes to furthering our mission of safety, integrity, and quality,” the Callan website states.

“Callan Marine maintains an expansive inventory of equipment that includes boats, dredges, barges, pile-driving rigs, cranes, earth-moving equipment, and support vessels. Our fully-equipped fleet stands ready for routine waterway and terminal dredging projects, as well as major construction and expansion efforts.”

Photo credit: Callam Marine, Ltd.

Ramon F. Navarro, a senior project manager with USACE’s Project Management Branch, said Callan is required to remove approximately 7,000,000 cubic yards of material using a pipeline dredge to deepen the navigation channel.

“Our close partnership with the Port of Brownsville has been instrumental in making this channel deepening project a reality,” Navarro said. 

Navarro said there is another ongoing construction contract focused on deepening the remaining section of the Port of Brownsville’s ship channel. He said this complementary effort is being spearheaded by private partner NextDecade LNG, working in conjunction with the Port of Brownsville. 

The NextsDecade part of the project involves deepening the channel entrance to a depth of 54 feet for the initial 4.5-mile stretch, before transitioning to a depth of 52 feet for the subsequent 7.5-mile segment. 

“The port’s critical cost-sharing participation has allowed the Corps to undertake this transformative infrastructure improvement, which will have lasting positive impacts on the south Texas economy. By deepening the ship channel, we are not only fulfilling our mission to maintain America’s vital waterways, but also generating immense economic benefits through increased trade, shipping efficiencies, and supporting the region’s industries,” said Col. Rhett Blackmon, the district commander.

The Port of Brownsville ranks 50th in the nation among 150 maritime ports for the movement of waterborne cargo, according to USACE’s 2022 Annual Report. In USACE’s 2021 annual report, the Port of Brownsville ranked 55th out of 150 maritime ports nationwide for the movement of waterborne cargo.

The major commodities moved through the port include wind energy components, petroleum products, ores and minerals, steel and other metals, vegetable oils, grains, and a variety of aggregates.

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