During a presentation to the GP school board by Cheniere, Ingleside by the Bay residents raised concerns about the wake caused by ships moving through the La Quinta Channel. The water displacement and speed of the ships were “rocking the boats”; erosion was also a concern. These are the “small ships” and, as disclosed in the Port document below, there will be many of them moving through the Channel, even before Exxon gets here.
Whether you are standing at Indian Point, Magee Beach, North Beach, or in the marshland exhibit of the Texas State Aquarium, the wake of the smaller ships can be seen and felt. Now, consider the Port will be dredging deeper channels to allow Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC’s) to enter CC Bay. These ships are enormous, capable of carrying 2 million barrels of crude. The displacement of bay waters and the speed will determine the size of the wake. That wake could cause serious impacts along our bay’s shoreline, especially at high tide and during our frequent abnormally high tides. The frequency of these ships entering bay waters can also contribute to degradation of the shoreline.
If the Port has conducted a hydrological study on the impacts of these super tankers to our shorelines, they should make it prominently available for public viewing. If they haven’t done so, local leaders and concerned citizens should demand it. Don’t just take their word that all will be fine. We know what that is worth.
