The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is on schedule for completion in late 2021, reports Georgia Ports Authority.
“ The Georgia Ports Authority is on track to have the most successful year in its history, on a number of front s,” said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood . “ Record growth in trade, teamwork and a strong relationship with our local communities and elected officials have helped to put our ports over the top.”
Last month, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law the state budget, which included $35 million for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project.
Then, earlier this week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced an additional $34.7 million within its annual work plan for the harbor deepening. That amount, combined with $50.06 million included in the federal budget for the current fiscal year, totals $84.76 million.
“ Clearly, the leadership demonstrated by Gov. Deal, U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, Congressman Buddy Carter and our entire Washington delegation is the secret sauce that enabled Savannah to receive full funding ,” Allgood said. “ With Gov. Deal pushing in Georgia for full state funding, and our elected officials in Washington doing the same on the federal side, Savannah is on track to better serve larger, more efficient vessels, and in turn provide an annual savings of $283 million for business and, ultimately, consumers .”
At the moment, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock’s (GLDD) backhoe dredge New York – a Lieberr 996 hydraulic excavator and largest marine backhoe in the United States – is working in the Charleston, South Carolina entrance channel.
The dredge New York is excavating 320,000 cubic yards of rock material to construct two marine patch reef features in U- and S-shaped mound formations. The reefs cover approximately 33 acres comprised of sixteen 300 foot by 300 foot squares in each reef. The Government’s intended design is that each cell represents a discrete mound feature.
Overall, GLDD will excavate over 13 million cubic yards of rock, gravel, and sand to deepen the 19 mile entrance channel to -53 feet.