Army Corps Of Engineers News

Big Easy Braces for Barry Flooding; Emergency Declared

New Orleans braced for severe flooding with residents told to hunker down as a growing tropical storm in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico headed for landfall late on Friday or early on Saturday as the first Atlantic hurricane of 2019.U.S. President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for the state of Louisiana late on Thursday, hours after the region's oil production was cut by half as energy companies evacuated offshore drilling facilities and a coastal refinery.Tropical Storm…

Big Cash Boost at Boston Port

A new report from the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) shows the Port of Boston contributed $8.2 billion in economic activity in 2018, up from $4.6 billion in 2012.Smart investments and partnerships have led to growth in jobs, business revenues, and tax contributions, it said.“The finding that the Port of Boston contributed $8 billion in just one year to the regional economy underscores the important role transportation infrastructure plays in the vitality of an area,”…

U.S. DOT Launches Port Program

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to apply for $292.7 million in discretionary grant funding through the new Port Infrastructure Development Program.“This major investment in the Port Infrastructure Development Program will help strengthen, modernize, and improve our country’s maritime systems and gateway ports,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.As the Administration continues to invest in America’s infrastructure…

U.S. Dredgers Applaud President for Jones Act Support

Wednesday, 1 May: Late this afternoon, President Donald Trump met with Congressional leaders from the Senate and House to discuss U.S. Maritime Policy. On the table was the Jones Act. President Trump assured the Congressional leaders that he is not seeking any changes to the Jones Act, nor is he seeking any waivers.“President Trump had the Jones Act matters all under control from the get-go”, said William P. Doyle, CEO & Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America. “Mr. Trump is all about jobs and national security — he’s never wavered on this.

Houston Widens Ship Channel

The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority has decided to accelerate widening of the Houston Ship Channel, the nation’s busiest waterway.The Port Authority is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and other representatives of the federal government, as well as Port of Houston and Houston Ship Channel stakeholders, to obtain authorization and accelerated funding and completion, of a deepened and widened ship channel.“The Houston Ship Channel is open for business for all and will continue to be…

Port of Corpus Christi Readies VLCC Terminal

The fourth-largest port in the United States in total tonnage, Port of Corpus Christi has leased land where it hopes to build the nation's first export terminal to load very large crude carriers (VLCC).The Port of Corpus Christi Commission approved today a long-term (50-year) lease agreement with Lone Star Ports, a joint venture between the Carlyle Group and the Berry Group, for approximately 200 acres on Harbor Island to develop a state-of-the-art petroleum export terminal.Featuring the latest in safety, security and environmental technologies, the facility will connect U.S.

$35M for Boston Harbor Dredging Project

The Massachusetts Port Authority announced that $35 million has been secured to help fund the ongoing Boston Harbor Dredging Project. The project is approximately 30 percent complete, and this funding will enable the project to continue on schedule.The project is a $350 million partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massport. The maintenance dredging of the inner harbor was completed in December of 2017. The deepening of the main ship channels began in July 2018 to accommodate the large container vessels calling today and in the future.

AAPA, Port Industry Mourn Loss of Steve Cernak

Mr. Cernak was AAPA’s immediate past Chairman and its 2019 Cruise Award recipient.Port Everglades Chief Executive and Director Steven M. Cernak passed away over the weekend, following a long, valiant battle with cancer. He was the immediate past Chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and immediate past Chairman of the Florida Ports Council.Upon learning of Mr. Cernak’s passing, AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle said: “Today we mourn the loss of one of the greatest champions of the port industry…

$138M Allocated for Charleston Harbor

President Donald Trump included $138 million in his budget for the coming year to help deepen Charleston Harbor to 52 feet so it can handle larger container ships, said Charleston District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.The project, in the works since 2011, had never been included in a president’s budget until now. The U.S. Army Corps last year revised a formula that measures the project’s economic benefit, putting it above the threshold needed for consideration.The Charleston…

U.S. Army Corps Selects 10 Beneficial Use Pilot Projects

At the end of December, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) announced its selection of ten dredging projects that will form the core of a pilot program to advance the beneficial use of dredged material.The recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ announcement culminated a program required by Congress, established within the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, specifically Section 1122. Congress directed that the ten pilot projects selected were required to present environmental…

Sherwin-Williams' Schultz Honored

SSPC (The Society for Protective Coatings) named Mark Schultz, Government Marine Project Development Manager for Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, winner of the 2018-2019 John D. Keane Award of Merit. The award recognizes Schultz’s 25 years of significant contributions to the development of the protective coatings industry and to SSPC.Schultz was recognized with the award February 11, 2019, at the SSPC Coatings+ Conference in Orlando, Florida.Schultz, an SSPC Protective…

POLB Sets Feb. 13 Meeting on Deepening Project

Input sought on proposed work to enhance navigation.The public is invited to a meeting Wednesday evening for the “Port of Long Beach Deep Draft Navigation Feasibility Study and Channel Deepening Project,” a joint effort between the Port of Long Beach and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate potential improvements to the harbor. A comprehensive feasibility study and joint Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for this project. The purpose…

Doubling Down on Domestic Dredging

U.S. Dredgers Weigh in on Infrastructure, U.S. Capabilities and the road ahead.Domestic dredging firms face many challenges in the coming months and years. At the same time, opportunities abound in a market and political climate that seems to beg for infrastructure upgrades, especially when it comes to harbors and inland waterways. Weighing in this edition on all of that – and more – are three U.S.-based dredging firms; Callan Marine, Cashman Dredging, and Weeks Marine.Cranford, NJ-based Weeks Marine, Inc.

WCI, AAPA Upbeat on Federal Funding for USACE, Inland Navigation Projects

WCI yesterday praised Congress for passage of the FY2019 Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 5895 that combines appropriations bills for the Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veteran Affairs, and Energy & Water Development that funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Separately, The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) lauded the ‘On Time’ FY'19 Energy and Water Development Appropriation, also noting that it marked the first time since 2004 that an E&WD…

Georgia Ports plan 8 million TEU capacity by 2028

Georgia Ports Authority’s 10-year, $2.5 billion plan aims to expand the capacity of the nation's fastest growing and single largest container terminal from 5.5 million twenty-foot equivalent unit containers (TEUs) to 8 million.GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch detailed the growth plan, at the Savannah State of the Port event today. "We're preparing to redefine the Port of Savannah as not simply the load center for the Southeastern U.S., but as the port of choice for major inland markets east of the Mississippi River," he said.During his presentation to nearly 1,400 people, including Gov.

Excessive Rain Disrupts US River Barge Shipping

Excessive rains across the central United States over the past week have slowed the harvest of corn and soybeans, while rising water levels closed at least three locks on the Upper Mississippi River, a key artery for shipping Midwest grain to U.S. Gulf exporters.Cash bids for corn shipped by barge to the Gulf firmed on Tuesday, reflecting exporter demand and dwindling pipeline supplies as rising river levels slowed barge traffic.The United States is the world's top corn supplier, and sales of the yellow grain represent one U.S.

Port of Corpus Christi Reports Tonnage Record

The Port of Corpus Christi set a new tonnage record of 79.3 million tons in the first nine months of 2018, surpassing the previous record of 77.9 million tons set in the first nine months of 2015. The number also eclipsed the same period in 2017 by 4 million tons, an increase of 5 percent year-over-year.The port’s volume growth in 2018 was driven by increases of crude oil (+11 percent), other petroleum products (+8 percent), and breakbulk shipments (+3 percent).“This tonnage record is one of many set by the Port of Corpus Christi in 2018…

SC Ports State of the Port Emphasizes Infrastructure to Support Growth

Jim Newsome, president and CEO, highlights cooperation and collaboration.South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) president and CEO, Jim Newsome, presented the annual State of the Port to an audience of approximately 600 customers, elected officials and shipping industry representatives at the Charleston Area Convention Center. Jim’s presentation focused on the Port’s successes, strategic infrastructure investments to support continued container volume growth, new initiatives to increase Port productivity and overall industry trends that will impact the Port in the future.

Gulfport’s Long Road Back From Hurricane Katrina

When Jonathan Daniels, executive director of the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport spoke to the audience at the annual state of the port luncheon July 27, 2018 at the newly rebuilt Island View Casino, he had a lot to offer in terms of jobs. And he had two aces in the hole: SeaOne, an untested compressed liquefied gas company and Yilport, a terminal company operated by an ambitious Turkish port developer. Both had letters of intent dating back two years with much to do.As has been the case since before Daniels took over from Don Allee in 2013…

Orion Bags $10 Mln Dredging Contract

Specialty construction company Orion Group Holdings, Inc. said it has been awarded an approximately $10 million dredging contractThe deal was awarded to company’s marine segment from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the dredging of the Sabine-Neches Waterway in Orange and Jefferson counties, Texas, including the lower reach of the Neches River, the Sabine-Neches Canal and Turning Basin and the Port Arthur Canal.The project is expected to begin late in the fourth quarter of 2018 with a duration of approximately six months.

Port of Corpus Christi: $59m for Channel Upgrades

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced its Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Work Plan, which includes an additional $59 million in funding for the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP). This funding brings the total Federal appropriations for the CIP to $95 million. The estimated CIP cost is $360 million, of which the federal government is responsible for $230 million, while the Port of Corpus Christi is responsible for the remaining $130 million. To date, the Port of Corpus Christi has transferred $78 million of its own funds to the USACE…

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: Jones Act Dredgers, America at its Best

The U.S.-Flag dredging industry commemorates the 77th anniversary of the Japanese air raid on the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor highlighting the critical need for a robust American shipbuilding capacity to ensure for the preparedness of the nation.“Today our brothers and sisters of the U.S Merchant Marine look to the past sacrifices made by 2,403 U.S. servicemen who died in the attacks on Pearl Harbor. We honor the members of the U.S. Armed Services,” said William P.

Great Lakes Bags Corpus Christi VLCC Channel Deal

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation announced the receipt of a $93 million contract award for the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project.Dredging to deepen the entrance channel will commence during the second quarter of 2019 with completion expected in early 2020 said Great Lakes, the largest provider of dredging services in the United States and a major provider of environmental and infrastructure services.It said that the overall ship channel deepening effort will be comprised of multiple phases, expected to be competitively bid and worked over the next five years.

South Carolina Ports Authority Marks 6.4% Container Volume Growth

The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), which operates the Port of Charleston and other facilities, today reported 6.4 percent year-over-year container volume growth, with a record 2.3 million twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) handled in 2018.Last year marked the third consecutive calendar year of record TEU volume for SCPA. The Port moved 199,701 TEUs in December alone, a 9.2 percent increase over December 2017 and the strongest December in SCPA history.As measured by the total number of boxes handled…

Savannah's TEU count grows 7.5 percent in 2018

As infrastructure expands to handle new business, the Port of Savannah moved more than 350,000 twenty-foot equivalent container units in December. Nine of the Georgia Ports Authority's 10 busiest months were in 2018. The Port of Savannah moved 4.35 million twenty-foot equivalent container units in Calendar Year 2018, its highest annual volume ever, and a 7.5 percent increase over 2017, according to a report from Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Griff Lynch to the GPA Board Tuesday.

Conley Box Terminal Breaks TEU Record Again

The Port of Boston’s Paul W. Conley Container Terminal set a new all-time record in 2018 for volume for the fourth year in a row. The Port of Boston is the main artery of Massachusetts’ consumer economy, with imports and exports serving as vital catalysts for growth, investment and opportunity. More than 1,600 businesses across New England use the Port of Boston for importing and exporting goods.Conley Terminal handled 298,036 TEUs during 2018, serving as an efficient alternative to other U.S. East Coast ports for New England cargo.