The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, has completed planned drilling and underwater blasting in the Arthur Kill Channel between the New York Container Terminal, Staten Island NY and Elizabeth, NJ.
The drilling and blasting which was completed during the last week in April 2014 was necessary to loosen hard rock for removal.
For the last time, in this contract area, the contractor, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, carefully drilled holes in the shale bedrock located there, filled the holes with precisely measured amount of explosives, and completed a final blast muffled by the water and creating a circular rippling foamy wave.
“ All planned Arthur Kill drilling and underwater blasting in this contract area was accomplished safely without significant disruption of the vital flow of ships transiting the port ,” said Bryce Wisemiller, the Army Corps’ New York District Project Manager . “ Dredging work will continue in the Arthur Kill Channel to ensure a safe depth of 50 feet.”
Dredged rock material is a valued natural resource that is environmentally beneficial and used for the construction of artificial reefs, and furthering improvements and enhancements in the estuary.
“ The goal is to complete the 50 foot deepening as soon as possible so that the full economic benefits to the region and nation can be realized. This greatly advances the maritime infrastructure which is critical to maintain the vitality of the port, ” said Wisemiller.
Once the 50 foot project is completed, the only remaining channel deepening will next be in the Arthur Kill Channel off of a New Jersey oil refinery to deepen it from 35 to 40 feet. The overall project involves deepening nearly 38 miles of shipping channels between New York and New Jersey to bring several of the major channels to a safe depth of 50 feet.
The Port of New York and New Jersey is the largest port on the East Coast, providing more than 269,900 direct and indirect jobs in port related activities.
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Press Release, May 1, 2014