US firm Great Lakes Dredge & Dock expects to start dredging work related to NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG export project in Texas later this year after it received a notice to proceed.
Back in 2020, NextDecade selected Great Lakes to perform these dredging works, including deepening the Brownsville ship channel.
NextDecade recently took a final investment decision on the first three trains of its Rio Grande LNG export project in Texas and completed $18.4 billion project financing.
It awarded the $12 billion EPC contract to Bechtel and said that some of the remaining expected project costs include owner’s costs and contingencies of about $2.3 billion and dredging for the Brazos Island harbor channel improvement project.
Great Lakes announced the receipt of the notice to proceed to perform essential improvements to the Brownsville ship channel in a statement on Monday, but it did not provide the price tag of the deal.
The dredging firm said this project is the largest undertaken by Great Lakes in its 133-year history.
Moreover, the work includes deepening the entrance channel to the western end of the Rio Grande LNG property also known as Phase 1 of the Brazos Island harbor channel improvements.
This also includes the development of two ship berths and turning basin for the Rio Grande LNG facility.
Great Lakes said this project will enhance commercial navigation into and out of the Port of Brownsville and ensure the safe and reliable access of LNG carriers to the Rio Grande LNG facility.
The firm added that it expects to start this project later this year.