Through a competitive process based on merit, eligibility, and the availability of funds, the Port of Hueneme/Oxnard Harbor District was selected to receive a grant award totaling $5.1 million from the Economic Development Administration (EDA).
This Department of Commerce’s EDA investment will provide long-term infrastructure enhancements to maximize facility utilization through dredging in Ventura County – a designated Opportunity Zone.
“This grant award and berth improvement project demonstrate our steadfast commitment to jobs and the environment, once again showing our ability to collectively foster economic growth and environmental stewardship,” said Oxnard Harbor District President, Jason T. Hodge.
The project includes dredging an additional five feet – from 35 ft. to 40 ft. to enable fresh produce container vessels to load heavier with each visit.
It also includes installing 600 ft. of sheet pile wall, demolishing old and installing new fender and mooring systems, repairing dilapidated areas of the concrete deck, and installing a passive cathodic protection system.
The berth located on the South Terminal at the Port is one that is also able to plug in oceangoing vessels into electric power, so they don’t run their engines while at berth.
By further improving such important infrastructure part of the harbor, this investment will help support further utilization of shore side power at the Port of Hueneme.