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Port Of Corpus Christi News

22 Jan 2024

New Tug Enters Service for Signet Maritime

Forepeak structure, 3D design and as-built (Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

Signet Sirius, the first of two ART 92-32W Rotortugs was recently delivered by Signet Maritime at their Pascagoula Shipbuilding and Repair facility. This is the first ART Rotortug that Signet has built and operated in their fleet. Designed by Robert Allan Ltd. in collaboration with RotorTug BV, the Advanced Rotortugs (ART) incorporate the patented triple Z-drive Rotortug propulsion layout, featuring omni-directional maneuverability, and the benefits of a fully redundant and precise propulsion machinery configuration.

06 Sep 2023

Port of Corpus Christi Promotes CFO Kent Britton to CEO

Kent Britton (Photo: Port of Corpus Christi)

The Port of Corpus Christi on Wednesday named Chief Financial Officer Kent Britton as its new chief executive officer to head the largest U.S. oil-export port by volume.The appointment comes nearly four months after Sean Strawbridge, the previous chief executive, abruptly resigned after he was questioned about his business expenses.Strawbridge has said all his expenses were in compliance with port policies and state statutes, and have all cleared the internal review process and…

16 May 2023

Head of Top US Oil-export Port Resigns Suddenly

Sean Strawbridge (File photo: Cory J. Mendenhall / U/S/ Coast Guard)

Sean Strawbridge, chief executive of the Port of Corpus Christi, the largest U.S.

18 Oct 2023

'Hydrogen Hubs' to the Fore

Image courtesy ABS

The path to decarbonization is defined by partnership and fueled by government funding. This month we examine the players, partnerships, and evolution of Hydrogen Hubs in the Gulf of Mexico.The Green Shipping Challenge, organized by the United States and Norway at COP 27 held in late 2022, brought about dozens of announcements on maritime decarbonization. Among these was a joint statement from the Blue Sky Maritime Coalition (BSMC) – a consortium of North American shipowners and…

16 Feb 2023

Divers Aid Tanker with Propeller Damage in Corpus Christi

(Photo: Phoenix International Holdings)

Commercial divers recently helped a tanker return to service after suffering major propeller damage in the Port of Corpus Christi.Phoenix International Holdings, Inc. said its commercial ship husbandry division recently responded to a call from the stricken 330-meter vessel in 60-feet of water in Corpus Christi, Texas.Upon mobilizing a fly away dive spread and dive team, the project manager Errol Gritten performed the complex mathematics involved in calculating the mass loss of the damage to restore hydrodynamic balance.

27 Dec 2022

Port of Corpus Christi Gets $157.3 Million for Channel Improvement Project

© brent coulter / Adobe Stock

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, approved by Congress in December 2022, includes project closeout funding of $157.3 million for the Port of Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP) for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). This funding will advance the last phase of the CIP, a national critical infrastructure project that will render the Corpus Christi Ship Channel the most improved in the entire U.S. Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida. The Port of Corpus Christi is the nation’s largest U.S.

11 Nov 2022

Crude Exports Lift Port of Corpus Christi to Q3 Tonnage Record

(Photo: Port of Corpus Christi)

The Port of Corpus Christi reports it set another tonnage record in the third quarter of 2022, driven in large part by record exports of crude oil.The new quarterly tonnage record of 48.3 million tons surpassed the previous tonnage record set in the second quarter of 2022 of 46.4 million tons, a 4% increase on overall tonnage. The growth primarily was a result of strong exports of United States produced crude oil to Western European buyers who have moved away from Russian crude imports. The U.S.

31 Oct 2022

AAPA Elects Strawbridge as Next Board Chairman

Sean Strawbridge (Photo: Port of Corpus Christi)

Trade group the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) elected a new Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sean Strawbridge of the Port of Corpus Christi, last week during its 111th Annual Convention and Expo in Orlando, Fla. Outgoing Chairman Mario Cordero of the Port of Long Beach made the formal announcement during his address to members and attendees.AAPA President and CEO Chris Connor remarked on the transition, "Our work at AAPA is bolstered by the leadership and input of our chairperson and board of directors.

29 Sep 2022

Runaway Barge Near Corpus Christi

(Photo: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi)

A barge has gone adrift and ran aground near the Packery Channel in Corpus Christi, Texas on Thursday.The U.S. Coast Guard said it received a call at 7:45 a.m. from a driver on Texas State Highway 361 stating they saw an adrift barge floating in the Packery Channel between the boat ramp and the jetties. The barge was loaded with rocks and drifting outbound.The Coast Guard notified Callan Marine, the company contracted to repair the jetty using the barge, and issued a safety marine information broadcast to alert nearby mariners and beachgoers to the potential hazard.

28 Sep 2022

Mitsubishi to Team Up with Port of Corpus Christi on US Ammonia Plant

(Photo: Port of Corpus Christi)

Japanese trading company Mitsubishi Corp said on Wednesday it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Port of Corpus Christi Authority of the United States to collaborate on large-scale production facility of fuel ammonia in Texas.The move comes as part of Mitsubishi's efforts to create global supply chains of the clean fuel to help Japan's and other Asian countries' attempts to combat climate change, the company's senior vice president, Hiroki Haba, told the International Conference on Fuel Ammonia.Ammonia is used for fertilizer and industrial materials…

27 Sep 2022

Port of Corpus Christi Obtains Texas Cybersecurity Certification

© trongnguyen / Adobe Stock

The Port of Corpus Christi has become the first port in the state to obtain the Texas Cyberstar Certification, issued by the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR).The Cyberstar Certificate Program was launched in May by the Texas DIR to recognize public and private organizations in the state that voluntarily meet specific criteria for cybersecurity best practices.“We remain committed to our CyberSecurity program at the Port of Corpus Christi. Our cyber team consistently strives to reach new milestones and protect against an ever-changing threat landscape…

20 Jul 2022

Can US Port Infrastructure Handle More Crude Exports?

© nevskyphoto / Adobe Stock

U.S. crude shippers are exporting huge amounts of oil to meet strong demand from Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions against Moscow. In coming years U.S. oil may find even more buyers overseas, but that could test the capabilities of U.S. export infrastructure.How much crude does the United States typically export?U.S. crude exports averaged 3.7 million barrels per day (bpd) over the four weeks through late May, their highest since March 2020, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

26 May 2022

Port Corpus Christi Sets New Tonnage and Revenue Records

(Photo: Port Corpus Christi)

The Port of Corpus Christi reports it experienced double-digit volume growth in the first four months of 2022, establishing new records for tonnage and revenues. Through the end of April its customers moved 59.2 million tons of cargo through the Port of Corpus Christi, representing a 10.4% increase over the prior record set in 2020. These new tonnage records were a result of a 56.2% increase in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports (5.4 million tons), a 17.8% increase in refined product exports (10.6 million tons)…

25 Apr 2022

Port of Corpus Christi Names Takizawa Director of Trade Development

Marcelo “Yudi” Takizawa (Photo: Port of Corpus Christi Authority)

The Port of Corpus Christi Authority has named Marcelo “Yudi” Takizawa as its Director of Trade Development. Takizawa has more than 20 years of commercial business and market development leadership experience in the energy and marine transportation space. He comes to the Port of Corpus Christi from Vopak.In his new role, Takizawa will oversee all business and trade development initiatives for the Port of Corpus Christi, including market development, management of customer relationships…

29 Mar 2022

Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Included in Biden's Spend Plan

(Photo: Port of Corpus Christi)

The Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project was included in President Joe Biden’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023 Budget released Monday under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Coastal Navigation Construction category. The President’s recommended funding targeted project closeout appropriations of $157.3 million. Once approved by Congress, the appropriation would complete the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project, rendering it the most improved ship channel in the entire U.S. Gulf Coast. The Port of Corpus Christi is the largest gateway for U.S.

29 Mar 2022

Engine Issues Led to Tanker Striking Dock in Corpus Christi -NTSB

Riverside before the casualty. (Photo: Glory Riverside Navigation LTD)

An incorrect solution to address a main engine start issue led to the contact between an oil tanker and a loading dock in the Port of Corpus Christi, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Tuesday.The agency published a marine investigation report detailing its investigation into the March 15, 2021, contact of the oil tanker Riverside with Moda Ingleside Energy Center No. 4 loading dock near Ingleside, Texas. The vessel was carrying more than 717,000 barrels of crude oil and was bound for Lisbon, Portugal. No injuries or pollution were reported.

20 Oct 2021

Port of Corpus Christi Inks Decarbonization Deal

(Photo: Port of Corpus Christi)

The Port of Corpus Christi Authority has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as part of the Port’s commitment to decarbonization and energy transition initiatives.The agreement between the two parties is intended to advance collaboration between the Port of Corpus Christi, NREL and Port tenants by identifying scalable energy transition and decarbonization projects that require techno-economic-analysis, modeling, testing and validation efforts unique to NREL’s capabilities.

27 Sep 2021

Army Corps Awards Contract for Corpus Christi Channel Improvement

(Photo: Port of Corpus Christi)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on Friday awarded a $139 million construction contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC. (GLDD), to complete the third phase of the landmark Port of Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP). The four-phase infrastructure project will increase the Corpus Christi Ship Channel depth from -47 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) to -54 feet MLLW and widen it to 530 feet, with an additional 400 feet of barge shelves.Phase 3 will extend west of the La Quinta Junction through the Chemical Turning Basin in the Port’s Inner Harbor.

28 Jun 2021

Ship Design: Pure 3D Process Deployed for US-built Advanced Rotortug

ABS, Robert Allan, Signet and USCG use purely 3D process to celiver commercial vessel.  Image courtesy of Robert Allan Ltd

The evolution of commercial ship design and construction now includes a first in the U.S.: the first commercial U.S. vessel designed, built and verified using an end-to-end 3D design process, a project coordinated through ABS, Robert Allan Ltd. (RAL), Signet Maritime Corporation (Signet) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).Designed by RAL, the Advanced Rotortug (ART), which is designed to escort vessels and offshore assets at the Port of Corpus Christi, will receive its Certificate of Inspection from the USCG and will now be built and operated by Signet to ABS Class…

03 Aug 2021

Port of Galveston Signs LNG Bunkering Deal with Stabilis

© Jorge Luna / Adobe Stock

Galveston Wharves at Port of Galveston and Stabilis Solutions Inc. have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to facilitate the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel at the port.Under the terms of the MOU, the port and Stabilis will work together to provide turnkey LNG fueling solutions to marine vessels calling on the port, including identifying suitable dock space for shore-to-ship fueling operations, obtaining the necessary permits and approvals, identifying and educating potential customers, and executing LNG fueling events.

17 Jun 2021

Port of Corpus Christi Buys New Police Boat

(Photo: PCCA)

The Port of Corpus Christi Authority (PCCA) has added a new patrol boat to its security force.The new 44-foot port security boat was purchased using a combination of Port Security Grant Program funds from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as well as matching funds from the PCCA. The new boat replaces one existing police vessel that has been in operation for more than a decade and had limitations when operating in severe sea states.

13 Sep 2021

Port of Corpus Christi Braces for Storm Nicholas

(Photo: Port of Corpus Christi)

The Port of Corpus Christi, Texas, on Monday increased its Hurricane Readiness Status to a high readiness Level 2 ahead of the landfall of Tropical Storm Nicholas.The Port of Corpus Christi remains at Port Condition Level X-Ray from Rockport to the U.S. Mexico border, it said in a release. "Under this condition, owners, operators or agents of all self-propelled oceangoing vessels over 500 gross tons, all barges and their support tugs should review USCG plans to depart or remain in port."(Reporting by Swati Verma in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler)

13 Sep 2021

Energy Firms Face Another Storm in US Gulf

(Image: NOAA)

Royal Dutch Shell on Monday began evacuating staff from a U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil platform, and other energy companies began preparing for hurricane-force winds from a second Gulf Coast storm in as many weeks.Tropical Storm Nicholas was about 105 miles (115 km) south of Port O'Connor, Texas, and moving north with winds of 60 miles per hour (97 kph). It could become a hurricane just ahead of landfall on Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center.Waves stirred up by Nicholas neared 12 feet (3.7 m) in height were reported outside of Port Aransas…