Port of Corpus Christi Purchases New Police Boat to Enhance Security
Jun 17, 2021
Corpus Christi, TX, USA – The Port of Corpus Christi Authority (PCCA) has added a new state-of-the-art patrol boat to its security force, an upgrade that will allow the Port to provide enhanced security for customers as vessel traffic steadily increases due to crude export market share and a robust local economy. The Port’s customer base continues to grow and direct their investment in the gateway, necessitating additional resources to serve their needs.
The new 44-foot port security boat was purchased using a combination of Port Security Grant Program funds from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as well as matching funds from the PCCA. The new boat replaces one existing police vessel that has been in operation for more than a decade and had limitations when operating in severe sea states. This new vessel also comes equipped with advanced detection equipment, in addition to limited 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 company was established in 1987, but MetalCraft Marine constructs vessels for government agencies and commercial markets at its location in Kingston that has served that purpose for three centuries.
“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.”
About Port Corpus Christi
As a leader in U.S. Crude Oil export ports and a major economic engine of Texas and the nation, 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 (MLLW) deep channel, Port Corpus Christi is a major gateway to international and domestic maritime commerce. The Port has excellent railroad and highway network connectivity via three North American Class-1 railroads and two major interstate highways. With an outstanding staff overseen by its seven-member commission, Port Corpus Christi is “Moving America’s Energy.” www.portofcc.com
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