Posted on April 14, 2026
Under the contract, Callan Marine will remove approximately 20 million cubic yards of material, construct two critically needed additional anchorage basins, and deliver 44 feet of usable draft from the Taylor Bayou intersection to the Ports of Port Arthur and Beaumont, including the waterway’s major industrial deep-water terminals. Dredging operations are scheduled to begin in early June 2026 and must be completed by April 15, 2028.
The work is part of a broader, federally authorized effort to deepen the Sabine-Neches Waterway from 40 feet to 48 feet. Once complete, the added depth and new anchorage capacity will improve navigation safety, reduce vessel delays, and expand long-term capacity for the region’s ports and industries.
“The Sabine-Neches Waterway plays a vital role not just in industry, but in the long-term stability of Jefferson County,” said Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick. “This project helps ensure the channel is better equipped to support the ongoing operations and future needs of the industries and communities that call Southeast Texas home.”
This milestone positions the Sabine-Neches Waterway Channel Improvement Project for completion eight years ahead of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ most recent schedule, prior to SNND assuming responsibility for all remaining construction.
The Sabine-Neches Waterway is one of the nation’s most strategically important deep-draft waterways, serving a dense concentration of refining, petrochemical, LNG, crude oil, and military fuel facilities along the Texas Gulf Coast. Completion of the Channel Improvement Project will improve vessel access and operational efficiency, expand export capacity, and further strengthen U.S. energy security and supply-chain resilience.
“The Sabine-Neches Waterway continues to lead the way in advancing American energy dominance, and this latest contract is a clear example of that progress as the project moves years ahead of schedule,” said Congressman Randy Weber. “I have worked closely with local leaders and President Trump to keep this project at the forefront, securing over $9 million in federal funding in FY26 alone to advance the waterway to its congressionally authorized 48-foot depth. That momentum is undeniable as Southeast Texas continues to raise the bar for the rest of the country.”
“The Sabine-Neches Waterway is central to Jefferson County’s local economy and industrial base,” said Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick. “This project strengthens the channel’s efficiency, reliability, and capacity, helping ensure the ongoing operations and future needs of the industries and communities that call Southeast Texas home. Earlier this month, on April 1, SNND and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a memorandum of understanding allowing SNND to move forward with this contract while remaining eligible to directly receive federal funds to help pay for at least 60 percent of the contract cost.
The contract signing follows strong federal support from the Trump Administration. On April 3, 2026, the President’s budget included an additional $30 million for the Sabine-Neches Waterway Channel Improvement Project. Combined with more than $200 million appropriated to the project over the past 12 months, total federal funding now exceeds $546 million.
At the direction of the Trump Administration, all remaining federal funds not yet expended by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with future appropriations for the deepening project, will be directed to the Sabine-Neches Navigation District. The goal is to complete the Channel Improvement Project at least a decade ahead of the original USACE schedule.
