The first vessel to arrive since closure of the channel for Hurricane Harvey sails under the Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi on Friday, Sept. 1. Courtesy photo
Port of Corpus Christi has reopened to ship traffic, making way for seven refineries in the area to go back online. The Texas Gulf Coast supplies one-fourth of the nation’s oil and gas. Hurricane Harvey caused a severe hiccup in the gasoline supply chain over the last week, creating consumer panic and long lines at gas stations.
A dozen refineries shut down from Corpus Christi to Texas City to Houston, resulting in several gas stations running out of gas in Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Austin. Word got around fast that a gas shortage was imminent, and the panic began.
Prices immediately increased as suppliers geared up to quickly replace depleted resources. Officials, meanwhile, tried to stem the tide with promises the gas would continue to flow.
Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton, who recently spoke at an energy event in Corpus Christi, assured Texans they had nothing to worry about.
“There’s plenty of gasoline,” he said. “This will subside.”
Sitton said consumers were putting a strain on the supply by creating a rush on gas stations — a self-fulfilling prophecy. Long lines at pumps do not mean gasoline is in short supply, he said.
The port received its first tanker on Friday, Sept. 1, six days after closing in preparation for the storm, which came to shore as a Category 4 hurricane on Aug. 25. Some 20 vessels have been awaiting berth assignments and will now be able to enter Corpus Christi Channel.
Opening the port positioned Corpus Christi as the largest refining center fully operational on the Texas coast at this time. Nearly 100 percent of the electric power has been restored to the city’s refineries, while similar operations in Houston and Texas are tackling major flooding.
The nation’s economy depends on the port’s continued operation. More than 80,000 jobs depend on the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, where more than $100 million worth of goods pass through every day. Port of Corpus Christi stakeholders generate $350 million a day in national economic output.
