Brownsville Port Advances with Navigation Channel Extension to 52 Feet

The Port of Brownsville is making satisfactory progress in extending the navigation channel of the Brazos Island Harbor (BIH) to 52 feet (15.8 meters) as part of the new modernization project in commercial maritime crossing.

Eduardo Campirano, Director and CEO of the Port of Brownsville, explained that the BIH channel spans 17 miles (over 27 kilometers), with current navigation capabilities at 42 feet (12.8 meters). The increase will facilitate navigation and reduce transit times.

Modernization Project

The Port of Brownsville is successfully advancing with the extension to 52 feet (15.8 meters) of the Brazos Island Harbor (BIH) navigation channel, a crucial component of the new modernization project in commercial maritime crossing. "These infrastructure improvements will significantly boost the competitiveness of the Port of Brownsville and attract greater investments to the region."

The project consists of two phases, with the first financed by NextDecade, which will also develop two ship berths. The second phase is carried out through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Port of Brownsville.

Cargo Movement

To execute the second phase, the U.S. federal government announced the allocation of 68 million dollars.

Campirano emphasized that with this project, the Port of Brownsville aims to surpass the growth levels of recent years. Between 2021 and 2022, cargo movement increased by 10%, rising from 13.8 million tons to 15.2 million tons.

New Opportunities

"This is the only deep-water port between Mexico and the United States. By extending to 52 feet in the Brazos Island Harbor channel, we will provide new opportunities and competition for companies worldwide," he stated.

He also mentioned expectations for increased operating revenues, which exceeded 38 million dollars in 2022.