Major works are underway on the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, known informally as SHEP, with dredge Alaska deepening seaward portion of the harbor, which extends 18.5 miles from Fort Pulaski into the Atlantic Ocean.
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company started dredging of the Savannah’s outer harbor last Thursday, 11 September.
The SHEP is being undertaken to accommodate the expansion of the Panama Canal that will increase the maximum draft of vessels travelling to and from the East Coast from 39.5 feet to as much as 50 feet.
Overall, the deepening project will cost approximately $706 million, including construction and environmental mitigation costs.
The latest photo released by the Corps, Savannah District shows a spider barge with dredge Alaska loading material onto scowls for disposal in EPA-approved sites to deepen Savannah harbor outer channel.