Dredging of the Maryland channels kicking off in late spring

Maintenance dredging of the Maryland channels is expected to begin in late spring, according to the U.S. Army Corps’ Baltimore District.

The project consists of dredging approximately 1.5 million cubic yards of material from four channels in Maryland associated with the Baltimore Harbor, ensuring continued safe navigation for vessels going in and out of the Port of Baltimore.

The following channels used by large container ships will be dredged to their respective authorized dimensions, plus allowable over depth of 1 foot:

• Brewerton Angle to a depth of 51 feet and width ranging from 700 to 1,400 feet (roughly 330,000 cubic yards);
• Tolchester Channel to a depth of 36 feet and width of 600 feet (roughly 660,000 cubic yards);
• Brewerton Channel Eastern Extension to a depth of 36 feet and width of 600 feet (roughly 240,000 cubic yards);
• Craighill Angle (Maryland) to a depth of 36 feet and width ranging from 700 to 2,200 feet (roughly 220,000 cubic yards).

Approximately 1.1 million cubic yards of material dredged from Brewerton Angle, Tolchester Channel, Brewerton Channel Eastern Extension and Craighill Angle will be beneficially reused at the Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystems Restoration Project at Poplar Island located on the eastern side of the Chesapeake Bay.

In addition, approximately 350,000 cubic yards of material dredged from the Baltimore Harbor approach channels will be placed at the Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility.

The $23.9 million maintenance dredging project was awarded to Cashman Dredging & Marine Contracting Co. LLC, out of Quincy, Massachusetts, in late April.