Ron Whitlock Reports Spotlight: Port of Brownsville
Copyright 2011 © The Shepherd Group. All rights reserved.
ISSUE: The Brownsville Navigation District’s Port of Brownsville was turning away ships and losing thousands of jobs until Congress finally acted and the U.S. ARMY Corp began dredging operations some larger vessels could once again call. As the largest economic engine for the greater South Texas and Northern Mexico region, this is only the beginning. To remain viable and not become economically obsolete, additional dredging must be accomplished, and a corp deepening and widening study, must be "fast tracked," not delayed once again. It must be completed as soon as possible, so that the Port of Brownsville can be ready not only to receive the bigger vessels soon to pass by its entrance when the enlarged Panama Canal opens for business, but to handle the deeper draft and wider channel needs of semi submersible drilling platforms to service the 30 Billion barrel "Great White" discovery due east of the port.
