Current Issues

Texas ports are our gateways to the world, and an important component of our state's economic well being. These are some of the major issues confronting our ports:

Dredging and Dredged Material Management

Millions of cubic yards of sediment are dredged from the state's ports and waterways each year. Texas ports partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, other Federal, state and local agencies, and private stakeholders to design, build and maintain navigation channels that deliver maximum benefits to the state and port communities while protecting and enhancing the environment. Ports act as sponsors of federal navigation projects that benefit all maritime interests, and take the lead in development of beneficial uses of dredged material.

Environmental Regulation

Texas Ports are committed to improving air quality in their communities and providing leadership on air issues at their facilities. All ports work to control their emissions, and several ports have gone to great lengths to voluntarily reduce their emissions by retrofitting equipment, using cleaner fuels, improving operational efficiency and purchasing new equipment.

Texas ports also support air quality improvement through innovative transportation systems like container-on-barge movements that reduce the number of trucks on our state's roads while providing cost-effective intermodal service.

Enhancing Free and Fair Trade

Our deep draft ports accommodate ocean-going vessels, which handle the vast majority of overseas trade by weight and value. Total freight moving through our ports is growing, creating jobs and economic impact for Texas. Our ports must meet the challenge of providing modern cargo-handling facilities to meet the demands of international trade to support local and regional economic growth.

Port Security

Texas ports play a critical role in our national security, and have spent millions of dollars to tighten security since the 9/11 tragedies. Federally mandated security expenses at our ports are expected to grow with implementation of the Maritime Transportation Security Act. While Congress has provided several rounds of port security grants, these allocations have been only a modest investment in protecting our state's ports and its people.

Maintenance of Waterways

Most of the ports in Texas are not naturally deep harbors, so they must be regularly dredged to allow ships to move safely in and out of marine terminals. While the state's ports have invested millions of dollars in facility improvements, the federal share of critical maintenance and deep-draft construction projects has lagged behind. The Administration and Congress must provide for vital improvements to our deep-draft navigation system.

Freight Mobility

Often the weakest link in the logistics chain to ports is the "last mile" leading to the terminal, where congested roadways and inadequate rail connections result in delays and increased transportation cost. To move cargo quickly between ports and inland origins and destinations, trucks and railroads need clear and uncongested access. State and Federal funding must provide support for intermodal connectors between surface transportation and ports in Texas.

Gulf Intracoastal Waterway

In June, 1949, the completion of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway linked all Texas ports with the 18,000-mile U.S. inland waterway system to provide safe, efficient and economical water transportation to serve petrochemical facilities, refineries, farms, mines, commercial fisheries and recreational uses. The Texas portion of the 1,000-mile canal is vital to the state's economy. Ensuring that this waterway is protected, improved and maintained guarantees the future of the hundreds of businesses and the thousands of Texans who depend on the efficient and economical transportation it provides.