According to US Coast Pilot 5, vessels should anchor off Aransas Pass in the Aransas Pass Fairway Anchorages. There is no suitable anchorage for deep-draft vessels inside Aransas Pass. Shallow-draft vessels of up to 10 ft draft can anchor about 1 nmi inside Aransas Pass in an area just north of Inner Basin. Other shallow-draft anchorages can be found in Corpus Christi Bay in depths of 13 to 15 ft.
Corpus Christi Channel is entered from the Gulf of Mexico through Aransas Pass, which passes between San Jose and Mustang Islands. With its entrance protected by jetties, the channel has project depths of 45 to 47 ft in the outer bar channel, and 45 ft in the jetty channel and westward to Corpus Christi. The channel leading from Aransas Pass to NAVSTA Ingleside is afforded limited protection by adjacent, low-lying islands for most of its extent. Outside the channel, the water near NAVSTA Ingleside is relatively shallow with depths less than 5 ft not uncommon. Tugs of up to 4,000 hp are available at Corpus Christi and serve all of the Corpus Christi Bay area. The Port of Corpus Christi has mobile cranes to 600 tons, a 45-ton floating crane, and one 100-ton stiff-legged derrick. Corpus Christi has limited repair facilities for medium-draft vessels, but none for making major repairs or for dry-docking deep-draft vessels. The nearest such facilities are at Galveston, TX. The largest floating drydock has a lifting capacity of 2,200 tons, with a length of 200 ft, width of 70 ft, and 16 ft over the keel blocks. The largest vertical boat lift has a capacity of 170 tons and can handle 125 ft vessels. A marine railway with a cradle length of 140 ft and a clear width of 52 ft at the top of the keel blocks can handle keeled vessels up to 650 tons and flat bottom craft to 1,000 tons. Several well equipped firms are available for making above-the-waterline repairs to vessels. Mine Warfare South Texas Impact (approximate figures)| Location | Personnel Assigned |
| Naval Station Ingleside *includes ships and shore-based commands that support Mine Warfare units. |
3400 |
| Naval Air Station Corpus Christi *COMINEWARCOM headquarters, COMOAG, and HM-15. |
700 |
| Naval Air Station Kingsville *MOMAU. |
20 |
| Family members of above personnel | 5700 |
| Total Mine Warfare-related Presence | 10,000 |
| Approximate ecomonic impact *Includes base maintenance contracts, employee payroll, ship repairs, local food services, etc. |
$135 million |
