The Port of Corpus Christi’s new 44-foot security boat was put to work in June. The vessel was purchased with Port Security Grant Program funds from the Federal Emergency Management Administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security along with matching funds from the port. Courtesy photo
State-of-the-art police boat increases security at Port Corpus Christi
A new state-of-the-art patrol boat was recently added to the Port of Corpus Christi security force. The upgrade in security will allow the port to provide customer security as vessel traffic steadily increases.
The new 44-foot port security boat was purchased using a combination of Port Security Grant Program funds from the Federal Emergency Management Administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security along with matching funds from the port. It replaces an existing police vessel that had been in operation for more than a decade and had limitations when operating in severe weather. This new vessel comes equipped with advanced detection equipment in addition to some firefighting capabilities.
“The safety of everyone who moves cargo in and out of the Port of Corpus Christi — from dockworkers to pilots — and the communities we serve is always paramount in our minds,” said Clark Robertson, chief operating officer for the Port of Corpus Christi. “This new port security vessel highlights our ongoing commitment to safety as our port continues to evolve and grow with its state-of-the-art detection functionality and ability to more safely navigate severe weather events.”
The Port Security Department has operated and staffed a port security patrol operation since 2009. The new vessel was constructed by MetalCraft Marine Inc. in Kingston, Canada, following its purchase approval by the Port of Corpus Christi Commission in November 2019.
“The Port of Corpus Christi has always made safety the highest priority for our staff and the customers who do business in our waterway,” said Charles W. Zahn, chairman of the Port of Corpus Christi Commission. “I am proud that the port commission and port staff were able to work with the federal government to make this important addition a reality for the health and well-being of those who help make our position as 'The Energy Port of the Americas' possible.”
Port Corpus Christi is the largest port in the United States in total revenue tonnage. Strategically located on the western Gulf of Mexico with a 36-mile, soon-to-be 54-foot-deep channel, Port Corpus Christi is a major gateway to international and domestic maritime commerce.
