Page 59: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2017)

(continued from page 57) tinued demand for basic plastics with a loaded at private docks, as the port owns • Stability: The U.S. is a stable envi- now if you are not in the President’s bud- growing middle class in India, China and the land along the ship channel that ship ronment, and LaRue counts the stability get (because there are no earmarks) you across Asia. Ethylene and Propylene are must cross. “This is a unique revenue of the U.S. as a factor in attracting for- can’t start the project.” the building blocks, and there are many stream for the port.” For vessel owners, eign manufacturing dollars. Rather than sit idle and hope, Port investments in cracker-type projects.” shippers and manufacturers, LaRue is • Cheap Energy: Plentiful supplies Corpus Christi is investing its own $32 quick to mention these advantages: of natural gas that, unlike other areas million to get phase one of the project

Digging Deeper • Air Attainment: The port is in of the world, is more stable in price and started, caring for the stretch from the

While LaRue is paid to attract busi- Air Attainment, meaning the process to availability, not beholden to political Gulf of Mexico to inside the bay. “It’s nesses to his port, he is a fairly pragmatic build a plant is cheaper and shorter than whim. called accelerated funding, and there is in his assessment. He reiterates its prox- a port not in attainment. some risk, because if it is never funded, imity to the two major shale plays as a • Free Flowing: Lack of vessel con- But Port Corpus Christi has its chal- we have to eat it,” said LaRue. “But they signi? cant plank in the port’s ? nancial gestion, with normally only 4 to 6 ships lenges too, with the number one being will fund it. The total project cost to success, and also notes the positive busi- waiting to get in. “We don’t have fog, we attaining the federal funding to dredge dredge to 54 feet is $350 million, but if ness climate in Texas, “which is more don’t have a big tidal ? uctuation (nor- its 36 mile long ship channel from its we just sit here and wait for them to do conducive to energy operations.” mally only 1 to 2 feet).” current depth of 47 feet to the authorized it, it will never get done. We’re going to “One of the unique things about Port • Rail Service: There are three rail depth of 54 feet. “Infrastructure is always put up $140 million (in total).”

Corpus Christi is we own our own oil services serving the port, providing reli- the biggest challenge,” said LaRue, and Meanwhile the port will wait on a re- docks,” said LaRue, noting that it pro- ability and competitiveness. in step with most every commercial port energized discussion on infrastructure vides a signi? cant revenue stream for the • Proximity to Mexico: The port in the world, dredging tops the chart. funding in Washington. “This is the type port. “Now with the shale we are seeing is 2.5 hours from the Mexican border. Port Corpus Christi received the autho- of project that should be on someone’s more and more activity.” Mexico is a large and growing trade rization to dredge its ship channel to 54 list, as the bene? ts are almost all export “Most ports receive little or no revenue partner with Port Corpus Christi, with feet in 2007, but federal funding has not driven. If they get serious about infra- from (private dock) facilities ‘inside the $1.7 billion in exports to Mexico in 2016 followed. “The project is clean and there structure funding, we can get this proj- fence line’ of the oil companies,” he said. (vs. $1.4 billion in 2015), and $115 mil- are no environmental issues with dredge ect done in three to four years. If they

But at Port Corpus Christi, the port gets a lion in imports from Mexico in 2016 (vs. material. We just we can’t get it through don’t it could drag on for seven or eight percentage of the wharfage for cargo un- $88 million in 2015). the Administration,” said LaRue. “Right years.”

Motor-Services Hugo Stamp, Inc.

Authorized Distributor and Service Center

DIESEL OIL

HEAVY FUEL OIL

LUBRICATION OIL

WATER

BOLLFILTER

Automatic

TYPE 6.64

OPTIMAL PROTECTION

Marine Engines, Prime Movers & Main Components

MOTOR-SERVICES HUGO STAMP, INC. carries Bollfilter’s complete line of products and spare parts.

MSHS has the service experience to manage the efficiency, performance and dependability of your filtration system.

Call Today. 800-622-6747 [email protected] / www.mshs.com

BOLLFILTER

SOUTHEAST: 954-763-3660 / GULF COAST: 504-265-8800 / WEST COAST: 425-513-6747

Automatic TYPE 6.18.3 www.marinelink.com 59

MR #8 (58-65).indd 59 MR #8 (58-65).indd 59 8/4/2017 12:00:02 PM8/4/2017 12:00:02 PM