The Port of Houston/Texas City/Galveston ranks number one in the U.S. based on both vessel calls and the weight of the cargo handled. The latest figures available (2003) show that these Texas ports had 6,187 vessel calls that carried 286,075 Dead Weight Tons of cargo, during that year!

Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA ranked second with 5,130 vessel calls and 265,490 Dead Weight Tons of cargo. New York and the SE Louisiana Ports (New Orleans et al) ranked third and fourth.

This means that the Galveston Ship Channel, between The Gulf and the turn off into Galveston Harbor, is the busiest ship channel in the country, where you can watch an average of 34 comings and goings of ships each day!

Another fine day on The Ship Channel


The Galveston Ship Channel
Vessel Calls at U.S. Ports 2003