Final phase of Jacksonville Harbour deepening completed

The final phase of Jacksonville Harbour deepening has been completed ahead of schedule, deepens remaining 5.3 miles of river from 38 to 40 feet

The third phase of the St Johns River harbour deepening project is now complete, ahead of schedule. Contractors for the US Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District have deepened 5.3 miles of the river from mile 14.7 to mile 20, from a depth of 38 feet to 40 feet. This brings the entire length of the harbour to a uniform depth of 40 feet.

Completion of this portion of the project will help Jaxport remain competitive, specifically to accommodate the water depth requirements of fully-loaded cargo vessels that currently use Jacksonville's port, and to meet the needs of new, even larger cargo ships.

The nearly US$50 million project, funded primarily by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also expanded the harbour’s Chaseville widener from 100 feet to 200 feet for the benefit and safety of harbour pilots and anyone who travels through the harbour.

Jacksonville District is currently assessing the possibility of further deepening of the harbour.

Nearly 65,000 jobs in the North Florida region rely on the local maritime community, which has an economic impact of $19 billion annually.
(Source:www.cargonewsasia.com)