THE Northwest Seaport Alliance and the US Army Corps of Engineers' US$3 million study is intended to determine whether the Blair and Sitcum waterways at the Port of Tacoma can be deepened to accommodate the biggest ships in the industry.
'We begin this project to deepen the south harbour as part of our effort to develop what will be one of the deepest gateways in the nation,' alliance CEO John Wolfe was quoted as saying in a report by Tacoma News Tribune.
The alliance's obligation for the study is $1.5 million over three years, with the corps paying the other half.
One reason for combining the market potential of the Tacoma and Seattle ports through the alliance was to attract mega ships.
'Deepening the Blair and Sitcum waterways may result in cost and time savings, potentially lowering project operations and maintenance costs, as well as potentially allowing for the removal of draft restrictions for certain vessels,' the corps' Seattle District commander Col Mark Geraldi said.
'This general investigation feasibility study will determine whether there is a federal interest in participating in modifying the existing waterways,' he said.
'We begin this project to deepen the south harbour as part of our effort to develop what will be one of the deepest gateways in the nation,' alliance CEO John Wolfe was quoted as saying in a report by Tacoma News Tribune.
The alliance's obligation for the study is $1.5 million over three years, with the corps paying the other half.
One reason for combining the market potential of the Tacoma and Seattle ports through the alliance was to attract mega ships.
'Deepening the Blair and Sitcum waterways may result in cost and time savings, potentially lowering project operations and maintenance costs, as well as potentially allowing for the removal of draft restrictions for certain vessels,' the corps' Seattle District commander Col Mark Geraldi said.
'This general investigation feasibility study will determine whether there is a federal interest in participating in modifying the existing waterways,' he said.