Deepening the Savannah harbor can begin following the award of a $134.5 million contract to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company of Oak Brook, Illinois, by the Savannah District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The contract covers deepening of the outer harbor, from approximately Fort Pulaski for 18.5 miles into the Atlantic Ocean.
Dredging the outer harbor is the first step to deepening the entire 40-mile shipping channel and harbor from deep ocean to the Georgia Ports Authority terminal in Garden City.
“ This award is a very significant part of deepening the Savannah Harbor, ” said Col. Tom Tickner, Savannah District Commander . “ About half of all the channel dredging for SHEP is incorporated into this one contract. The 47-foot depth is a forthcoming reality and we are well on our way to putting a critical piece of transportation infrastructure in place that will benefit not only the southeast, but the entire nation.”
The deepening, officially known as the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, or SHEP, will enable larger container ships to call on Savannah with greater ease, heavier cargoes and fewer tidal restraints than they currently experience. The Corps of Engineers partnered with the State of Georgia for the deepening.
“ After 16 years of study, it is gratifying to know that we can now move forward with the deepening of the Savannah River, ” said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal . “ This announcement has been made possible, in part, by the state’s $266 million investment into the port’s expansion. This crucial advancement in our logistics network will aid the prompt delivery of valuable cargo, preserving and creating economic opportunity across Georgia and the Southeast.”
“ The harbor deepening, which begins in earnest with this contract, supports long-term economic viability and growth for our state and nation ,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz . “ The 21,000 American businesses that rely on the Port of Savannah are projected to save $174 million a year through increased transportation efficiency. This project will ensure continued world-class service, allowing the Port of Savannah to better handle the larger, latest generation container ships already calling the East Coast .”
The deepening brings a net benefit of $174 million each year to U.S. consumers in lower transportation costs and greater efficiencies. Each dollar invested in the SHEP will return $5.50 to the economy.
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