Vessel Hydrodynamics Analysis for Impacts of Port Expansion in Corpus Christi Ship Channel

The Port of Corpus Christi Authority plans to improve its channel by deepening, widening, and extending the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, thereby allowing it to diversify its cargo base. The channel improvement project includes the construction of a rock breakwater which serves as an ecosystem restoration feature to provide shoreline erosion protection. This hydrodynamic modeling study was conducted to evaluate passing vessels’ effects on breakwater and surrounding area. The vessel hydrodynamic modeling was performed with the Vessel Hydrodynamics Longwave Unsteady numerical model which calculates detailed ship-induced water surface elevation fluctuations and current velocities within a variable-bathymetry domain. Tanker hull geometries were developed that are typical of those found in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. Containership and LNG vessel hulls were used that are typical of those proposed for after the port expansion. The methods applied in the study provide a means of determining relative impacts of channel modifications and new vessel traffic. Changes in water surface elevations and current velocities generated by the vessel were evaluated for existing and post-project conditions. The local impacts were categorized by location and primary impact mechanism (i.e. channel improvements vs. breakwater construction).