THE US Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Review Board (CWRB) has approved the Final Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement for the Charleston Post-45 Harbour Deepening project.
US Army Corps of Engineers brass give Charleston dredging their blessingTHE US Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Review Board (CWRB) has approved the Final Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement for the Charleston Post-45 Harbour Deepening project.
The report is expected to be signed in September and then transmitted to Congress, with construction to begin following the pre-construction, engineering and design phase.
This, said the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) statement, is a important step in the federal process that ensures the project is on schedule.
"Today's approval by the Civil Works Review Board allows our harbour deepening project to progress without delay," said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome.
"Once deepening to 52 feet is realised, Charleston will offer the deepest harbour on the east coast with the capability to serve fully-loaded postpanamax vessels 24 hours a day," he said.
The dredging, coupled with SCPA investments in landside infrastructure and terminal capacity, is expected to results in cargo volume growth twice the national port average.
The final report has been approved for release for a 30-day review period for state and resource agencies.
Efforts to deepen the Charleston harbour began in 2011 in order to provide the depth necessary to handle postpanamax vessel calls without tidal restriction.
The expansion of the Panama Canal and the raising of the Bayonne Bridge in New Jersey are expected to increase the size of cargo vessels deployed to east coast ports, making deepwater a requirement for modern ports.
In 2013, the state legislature set aside the full estimated state share of the deepening construction costs, and the project was named was named one of President Obama's "We Can't Wait" initiatives.