A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Developing Port Facilities on Houston's Ship Channel
In the past virtually all public and private wharves at the Port of Houston (Tex.) have been of the marginal type because •of the unusual nature of the Houston Ship Channel. Unlike most deepwater ports, the turning basin of the Port of Houston is 50 miles from the open sea (the Gulf of Mexico) and was developed by dredging a narrow, shallow, winding stream known as Buffalo Bayou. As an inducement to industry, a strip of land, 2,500 ft deep on each side of the center of the channel, was taken into the city of Houston but was declared exempt from city taxes. As a result, industrial facilities and their private wharves were forced to be developed as close as possible to the channel, and the utilization of marginal wharves was thereby dictated.
The property owned by the Port of Houston, on which the present public wharves are located, is relatively shallow in depth, and its wharves have also been of the marginal type. However, the port has recently acquired a tract of land of sufficient depth to consider constructing pier-type wharves and slips. Because of this fact and the desirability of properly planning in advance for the most economical ultimate layout of the new area, detailed studies were undertaken for an approved plan of development for this area and for the estimated cost of the incremental parts. These studies included visits to other major deepwater ports in the United States and conferences with representatives of the various agencies that will utilize the new facilities.
As a result, a table of basic criteria and dimensions was adopted for marginal-type facilities and pier-type facilities. After a careful examination was made of several possible layouts, the “marginal-wharf” type of development was recommended as being the most satisfactory for the site conditions. Research at the beginning of the study revealed a lack of information and basic criteria. Therefore, it is believed that the criteria developed, the factors considered, and the conclusions reached will be of value to others considering an expansion of port facilities.
Developing Port Facilities on Houston's Ship Channel
In the past virtually all public and private wharves at the Port of Houston (Tex.) have been of the marginal type because •of the unusual nature of the Houston Ship Channel. Unlike most deepwater ports, the turning basin of the Port of Houston is 50 miles from the open sea (the Gulf of Mexico) and was developed by dredging a narrow, shallow, winding stream known as Buffalo Bayou. As an inducement to industry, a strip of land, 2,500 ft deep on each side of the center of the channel, was taken into the city of Houston but was declared exempt from city taxes. As a result, industrial facilities and their private wharves were forced to be developed as close as possible to the channel, and the utilization of marginal wharves was thereby dictated.
The property owned by the Port of Houston, on which the present public wharves are located, is relatively shallow in depth, and its wharves have also been of the marginal type. However, the port has recently acquired a tract of land of sufficient depth to consider constructing pier-type wharves and slips. Because of this fact and the desirability of properly planning in advance for the most economical ultimate layout of the new area, detailed studies were undertaken for an approved plan of development for this area and for the estimated cost of the incremental parts. These studies included visits to other major deepwater ports in the United States and conferences with representatives of the various agencies that will utilize the new facilities.
As a result, a table of basic criteria and dimensions was adopted for marginal-type facilities and pier-type facilities. After a careful examination was made of several possible layouts, the “marginal-wharf” type of development was recommended as being the most satisfactory for the site conditions. Research at the beginning of the study revealed a lack of information and basic criteria. Therefore, it is believed that the criteria developed, the factors considered, and the conclusions reached will be of value to others considering an expansion of port facilities.
Developing Port Facilities on Houston's Ship Channel
Newnam, Frank H. (author)
Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers ; 123 ; 239-257
2021-01-01
191958-01-01 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
Unknown
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