Page 34: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (May/Jun 2017)

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Featured Port

We saw a signifcant downturn in tonnage and rev- enue (last year), as we were down about 10%, in some categories even more. This year has started to bounce back in a big way, and we have seen an uptick this year from just about everybody. The ability to export crude has made a big difference.

– John P. LaRue,

Executive Director, Port Corpus Christi meaning the process to build a plant is cheaper and ing its own $32 million to get phase one of the project started, shorter than a port not in attainment. caring for the stretch from the Gulf of Mexico to inside the • Free Flowing: Lack of vessel congestion, with bay. “It’s called accelerated funding, and there is some risk, normally only 4 to 6 ships waiting to get in. “We don’t because if it is never funded, we have to eat it,” said LaRue. have fo g, we don’t have a big tidal fuctuation “But they will fund it. The total project cost to dredge to 54 (normally only 1 to 2 feet).” feet is $350 million, but if we just sit here and wait for them • Rail Service: There are three rail services serving to do it, it will never get done. We’re going to put up $140 the port, providing reliability and competitiveness. million (in total).” • Proximity to Mexico: The port is 2.5 hours from Meanwhile the port will wait on a re-energized discussion the Me xican border. Mexico is a large and growing on infrastructure funding in Washington. “This is the type of tr ade partner with Port Corpus Christi, with $1.7 project that should be on someone’s list, as the benefts are al- billion in exports to Mexico in 2016 (vs. $1.4 billion most all export driven. If they get serious about infrastructure in 2015), and $115 million in imports from Mexico funding, we can get this project done in three to four years. If in 2016 (vs. $88 million in 2015). they don’t it could drag on for seven or eight years.” • Stability: The U.S. is a stable environment, and LaRue Website: http://www.portcorpuschristi.com/ c ounts the stability of the U.S. as a factor in attracting for eign manufacturing dollars. • Cheap Energy: Plentiful supplies of natural gas that, unlik e other areas of the world, is more stable in price and availability, not beholden to political whim.

But Port Corpus Christi has its challenges too, with the number one being attaining the federal funding to dredge its 36 mile long ship channel from its current depth of 47 feet to the authorized depth of 54 feet. “Infrastructure is always the biggest challenge,” said LaRue, and in step with most every commercial port in the world, dredging tops the chart. Port

Corpus Christi received the authorization to dredge its ship channel to 54 feet in 2007, but federal funding has not fol- lowed. “The project is clean and there are no environmental issues with dredge material. We just we can’t get it through the

Administration,” said LaRue. “Right now if you are not in the

President’s budget (because there are no earmarks) you can’t start the project.”

Rather than sit idle and hope, Port Corpus Christi is invest- 34 Maritime Logistics Professional March/April 2017 | |