Posted on December 16, 2024
Dredging in Gulfport, Mississippi:
“Our current recommendation is going to be deepening that channel from 36 feet to 46 feet, then widening the channel by about 100 feet.” — Chris Marr, P.E. Army Corps of Engineers, Project Manager.
USACE, Port of Gulfport leaning towards dredging to accommodate bigger ships
By Will Polston
Published: Dec. 5, 2024 at 10:17
PM CST|Updated: 8 hours ago
GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) – The Mississippi State Port Authority, while it brings in thousands of ships a year, is incapable of bringing in larger cargo units.
With the depth of the channel at 36 feet, they have to keep it small.
“Our 36 feet of water really limits the size of vessel that we can bring into the port,” said Port of Gulfport CEO Jon Nass.
In an attempt to solve the issue, MSPA is conducting a study with the US Army Corps of Engineers, checking to see how feasible it would be to dig deeper, a process known as dredging, for more ship clearance.
Nass said it would be a beneficial move.
“In turn, it will create more jobs for the ILA 1303, support the regional economy, support the state economy, and just allow us to be a bigger economic driver than we already are,” said Nass.
USACE is halfway through a three-year study, analyzing factors including environmental impacts, economic benefits, and the cost of the project.
While the study is not complete, Chris Marr, the USACE project manager, thinks the answer is clear.
“Our current recommendation is going to be deepening that channel from 36 feet to 46 feet, then widening the channel by about 100 feet.”
The feasibility study will be completed in April 2026.
If you have questions or concerns about the project, you are encouraged to email cesam-gulfportharbormsfeasibilitystudy@usace.army.mil or cesam-environmental-justice@usace.army.mil.
