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[[File:Houston Ship Channel Galena.jpg|thumb|right|The Buffalo Bayou portion of the Houston Ship Channel]] |
[[File:Houston Ship Channel Galena.jpg|thumb|right|The Buffalo Bayou portion of the Houston Ship Channel]] |
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The '''Houston Ship Channel''', located in [[Houston]], is part of the [[Port of Houston]]—one of the [[United States]]'s busiest [[sea port]]s.<ref name="HGnav">"Welcome to the Houston-Galveston Navigation Channel Project Online Resource Center" (description), [[USACE]], December 2005, webpage: [http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/items/hgnc/ USACE-HGNC].</ref> |
The '''Houston Ship Channel''', located in [[Houston]], is part of the [[Port of Houston]]—one of the [[United States]]'s busiest [[sea port]]s.<ref name="HGnav">"Welcome to the Houston-Galveston Navigation Channel Project Online Resource Center" (description), [[USACE]], December 2005, webpage: [http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/items/hgnc/ USACE-HGNC].</ref> The [[channel (geography)|channel]] is a conduit for ocean-going vessels between the Houston-area shipyards and the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. |
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==Overview== |
==Overview== |
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⚫ | [[File:Port of Houston ISS012-E-9567.jpg|thumb|San Jacinto River in Channel. Inset (white line top left) magnified as bottom photo showing the {{USS|Texas|BB-35|2}} and [[San Jacinto Monument]].]] The channel is a widened and deepened natural watercourse created by [[dredging]] the [[Buffalo Bayou]] and the [[Galveston Bay]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Houston Ship Channel A History|url=http://www.betterbay.org/html/releases/HoustonShipChannelHistory.htm|publisher=The Port of Houston Authority|accessdate=9 September 2009}}</ref> Major products, such as [[petrochemical]]s and [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] [[grain]], are transported in bulk together with general cargo. The original watercourse for the channel, [[Buffalo Bayou]], has its [[headwater]]s 30 miles (48 km) to the west of the city of Houston. Today the navigational head of the channel, the most upstream point to which general cargo ships can travel, is at Turning Basin in east Houston.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.portofhouston.com/maritime/general_cargo/turningbasin.html | title=Turning Basin | publisher=Port of Houston Authority | accessdate=9 Feb 2010}}</ref> |
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[[File:Port of Houston ISS012-E-9567.jpg|thumb|San Jacinto River in Channel. Inset (white line top left) magnified as bottom photo showing the {{USS|Texas|BB-35|2}} and [[San Jacinto Monument]].]] |
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The Ship Channel has numerous [[wharf|terminals]] and [[Berth (moorings)|berthing locations]] along Buffalo Bayou and Galveston Bay. The major public terminals include Turning Basin, [[Barbours Cut Terminal|Barbours Cut]], and [[Bayport Terminal|Bayport]]. There are many private docks as well, including the ExxonMobil Baytown Complex and the Deer Park Complex.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aima-ind.org/Assignments/DHR05.doc | title=DHR05: HRD for Competitive Advantage: Assignment I | publisher=All India Management Association | accessdate=9 Feb 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=40702 | title=ENVIRONMENT: U.S. Groups Sue Shell Over Refinery Pollution | author=Aslam, Abid | work=Inter Press Service News Agency | date=7 Jan 2008}}</ref> |
The Ship Channel has numerous [[wharf|terminals]] and [[Berth (moorings)|berthing locations]] along Buffalo Bayou and Galveston Bay. The major public terminals include Turning Basin, [[Barbours Cut Terminal|Barbours Cut]], and [[Bayport Terminal|Bayport]]. There are many private docks as well, including the ExxonMobil Baytown Complex and the Deer Park Complex.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aima-ind.org/Assignments/DHR05.doc | title=DHR05: HRD for Competitive Advantage: Assignment I | publisher=All India Management Association | accessdate=9 Feb 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=40702 | title=ENVIRONMENT: U.S. Groups Sue Shell Over Refinery Pollution | author=Aslam, Abid | work=Inter Press Service News Agency | date=7 Jan 2008}}</ref> |
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The Houston Ship Channel has been periodically widened and deepened to accommodate ever-larger ships, and is currently {{convert|530|ft|m}} wide by {{convert|45|ft|m}} deep by {{convert|50|mi|km}} long.<ref name=HGnav/> The islands in the ship channel are part of the ongoing widening and deepening project. The islands are formed from soil pulled up by [[dredging]], and the [[salt marsh]]es and bird islands are part of the [[Houston Port Authority]]'s beneficial use and environmental mitigation responsibilities.<ref name=HGnav/> |
The Houston Ship Channel has been periodically widened and deepened to accommodate ever-larger ships, and is currently {{convert|530|ft|m}} wide by {{convert|45|ft|m}} deep by {{convert|50|mi|km}} long.<ref name=HGnav/> The islands in the ship channel are part of the ongoing widening and deepening project. The islands are formed from soil pulled up by [[dredging]], and the [[salt marsh]]es and bird islands are part of the [[Houston Port Authority]]'s beneficial use and environmental mitigation responsibilities.<ref name=HGnav/> |
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The |
The channel has five vehicular crossings. They are the [[Washburn Tunnel]], the [[Sidney Sherman Bridge]], the [[Sam Houston Ship Channel Bridge]] and popularly known as the Beltway 8 Bridge; the [[Fred Hartman Bridge]] connecting La Porte and Baytown, Texas; and the [[Lynchburg Ferry]]. |
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[[File:US Revenue Cutter Windom at Houston Ship Channel.jpg|thumb|The Houston Ship Channel during its first opening in 1915.]] |
[[File:US Revenue Cutter Windom at Houston Ship Channel.jpg|thumb|The Houston Ship Channel during its first opening in 1915.]] |
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[[File:HoustonShipChannel1913.png|thumb|left|Illustration of the Houston Ship Channel in 1913]]While much of the Ship Channel is associated with heavy industry, two icons of [[History of Texas|Texas history]] are also located along its length. The {{USS|Texas|BB-35}} saw service during both World Wars, and is the oldest remaining example of a [[dreadnought]]-era battleship in existence. The nearby [[San Jacinto Monument]] commemorates the [[Battle of San Jacinto]] (1836) in which Texas won its independence from [[Mexico]]. |
[[File:HoustonShipChannel1913.png|thumb|left|Illustration of the Houston Ship Channel in 1913]] The channel has been used to move goods to the sea since at least 1836. The proximity to Texas [[oilfield]]s led to the establishment of numerous petrochemical [[oil refinery|refineries]] along the waterway, such as the [[ExxonMobil]] Baytown installation on the eastern bank of the [[San Jacinto River (Texas)|San Jacinto River]]. |
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While much of the Ship Channel is associated with heavy industry, two icons of [[History of Texas|Texas history]] are also located along its length. The {{USS|Texas|BB-35}} saw service during both World Wars, and is the oldest remaining example of a [[dreadnought]]-era battleship in existence. The nearby [[San Jacinto Monument]] commemorates the [[Battle of San Jacinto]] (1836) in which Texas won its independence from [[Mexico]]. |
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The US Army's [[San Jacinto Ordnance Depot]] was located on the channel from 1941–1964. |
The US Army's [[San Jacinto Ordnance Depot]] was located on the channel from 1941–1964. |
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Revision as of 03:03, 9 May 2011
The Houston Ship Channel, located in Houston, is part of the Port of Houston—one of the United States's busiest sea ports.[1] The channel is a conduit for ocean-going vessels between the Houston-area shipyards and the Gulf of Mexico.
Overview
The channel is a widened and deepened natural watercourse created by dredging the Buffalo Bayou and the Galveston Bay.[2] Major products, such as petrochemicals and Midwestern grain, are transported in bulk together with general cargo. The original watercourse for the channel, Buffalo Bayou, has its headwaters 30 miles (48 km) to the west of the city of Houston. Today the navigational head of the channel, the most upstream point to which general cargo ships can travel, is at Turning Basin in east Houston.[3]
The Ship Channel has numerous terminals and berthing locations along Buffalo Bayou and Galveston Bay. The major public terminals include Turning Basin, Barbours Cut, and Bayport. There are many private docks as well, including the ExxonMobil Baytown Complex and the Deer Park Complex.[4][5]
The Houston Ship Channel has been periodically widened and deepened to accommodate ever-larger ships, and is currently 530 feet (160 m) wide by 45 feet (14 m) deep by 50 miles (80 km) long.[1] The islands in the ship channel are part of the ongoing widening and deepening project. The islands are formed from soil pulled up by dredging, and the salt marshes and bird islands are part of the Houston Port Authority's beneficial use and environmental mitigation responsibilities.[1]
The channel has five vehicular crossings. They are the Washburn Tunnel, the Sidney Sherman Bridge, the Sam Houston Ship Channel Bridge and popularly known as the Beltway 8 Bridge; the Fred Hartman Bridge connecting La Porte and Baytown, Texas; and the Lynchburg Ferry.
History
The channel has been used to move goods to the sea since at least 1836. The proximity to Texas oilfields led to the establishment of numerous petrochemical refineries along the waterway, such as the ExxonMobil Baytown installation on the eastern bank of the San Jacinto River.
While much of the Ship Channel is associated with heavy industry, two icons of Texas history are also located along its length. The USS Texas (BB-35) saw service during both World Wars, and is the oldest remaining example of a dreadnought-era battleship in existence. The nearby San Jacinto Monument commemorates the Battle of San Jacinto (1836) in which Texas won its independence from Mexico. The US Army's San Jacinto Ordnance Depot was located on the channel from 1941–1964.
The channel was designated a National Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 1987.
Pollution
On December 25, 2007, the Houston Ship Channel was featured on the CNN Special, Planet in Peril, as a potential polluter of nearby neighborhoods. That year, the University of Texas released a study suggesting that children living within 2 miles (3.2 km) of the Houston Ship Channel were 56 percent more likely to become sick with leukemia than the national average.[6]
See also
References
- "Houston Ship Channel, Texas". NASA Earth Observatory. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
- ^ "The Houston Ship Channel A History". The Port of Houston Authority. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
- ^ "Turning Basin". Port of Houston Authority. Retrieved 9 Feb 2010.
- ^ "DHR05: HRD for Competitive Advantage: Assignment I". All India Management Association. Retrieved 9 Feb 2010.
- ^ Aslam, Abid (7 Jan 2008). "ENVIRONMENT: U.S. Groups Sue Shell Over Refinery Pollution". Inter Press Service News Agency.
- ^ "Possible Link Between Ship Channel Air Pollutants, Cancer Risks". University of Texas School of Public Health. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
External links
- Houston Ship Channel from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Time-lapse video of a barge navigating a length of the Houston Ship Channel at night
- See historical photographs of the Houston Ship Channel, the Houston community, and more at the University of Houston Digital Library