Port of Miami dredging project gets boost

The Port of Miami said Wednesday that its dredging project will benefit from a program approved by the U.S. Senate this week.

The U.S. Senate approved, by a vote of 81-12, a House-Senate conference report for the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, which the U.S. House of Representatives adopted on Aug. 1 by a vote of 381-40. It authorizes a seven-year backlog of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers programs, including the Miami Harbor Phase III Dredging Project to deepen the port's south channel from its current 42 feet depth to 50 feet.

Port of Miami Director Bill Johnson said the dredging project is critical to the long-term economic viability of the port and will enable it to berth the largest containerized cargo vessels in the world. It is expected to have a significant impact on cargo volume, he said.


Source:Miami Herald