Port Canaveral announced the completion of the deepening of the West Turning Basin, allowing deeper draft access to the Port’s container cargo facility operated by GT USA at North Cargo Berth 5 and 6.
The project lasted 6 months and managed to deepen the West Turning Basin to the authorized depth of -43 feet plus 2 feet additional overdredge, complimenting the existing authorized Port channel depth of -44 feet.
The channel does not have any overhead obstructions such as bridges, wires, and has no air draft restrictions.
With the channel to the West turning Basin and approximately 2,000 feet of quay now at -43 feet, Port Canaveral becomes one of the deepest draft and working cargo berths with no air draft limitation between Miami and Norfolk.
This project will allow larger cargo vessels’ safe access into the port, which is now open to bigger, modern industrial ships, vital to Central Florida’s economic success, Captain John Murray, Port CEO stated.
He continued by saying that the port’s region will face a growth of cargo, thus making Port Canaveral more competitive and increasing economic opportunities.
In particular, more than 826,000 cubic yards of dredged material was removed by dredging contractor, Dutra Group. All work was performed under specific conditions of environmental permits issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Army Corps of Engineers and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
With the deepening project complete, Port Canaveral is currently in the process to purchase a mobile harbor crane, with an 18/19 container reach. The crane is expected to start operations by the end of 2018.
The total cost for the project is amounted at about $7.5 million dollars, with approximately 75 percent of the cost covered by a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) grant.
