The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District’s authorities yesterday joined the Port of Grays Harbor officials in marking the completion of their Navigation Improvement Dredging Project – Deeper Draft, Phase II.
“Seattle District and the port have been working together for more than a century and we look forward to another century of partnership ,” USACE said in its announcement.
The main purpose of the scheme is to improve the efficiency of deep-draft vessel navigation in Grays Harbor. According to USACE, the dredging works are needed to alleviate large vessel restrictions imposed by the insufficient channel depths.
The project to deepen the channel to 38 feet, which allows ships to carry more cargo into the port’s marine terminals, took decades to realize, along with Congressional approval, the support of local legislators and county and city officials, and a strong working relationship between the Grays Harbor community and USACE.