Posted on July 8, 2026
GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCBD) – Maintenance dredging is set to begin Tuesday in Georgetown Harbor as crews work to restore navigation channels that county leaders say are critical to the area’s economy and future industrial growth.
The $3.6 million project will focus on the Bypass and Steel Mill channels, where accumulated sand and silt have reduced water depths to less than five feet in some locations.
Once completed, the channels will be restored to a depth of 12 feet, with an additional 2 feet of allowable overdepth. According to Georgetown County, the work is expected to take less than three months to complete.
Crews will use a cutterhead dredge to remove an estimated 390,000 cubic yards of material from the harbor. The dredged material will be placed at the Sampit Placement Area, a designated disposal site in Georgetown County.
County officials say the dredging supports the Georgetown Port Master Plan and is intended to improve access to industrial waterfront properties, including sites associated with International Paper and Liberty Steel.
