The USACE Charleston District will soon begin maintenance dredging in the lower Charleston Harbor to ensure the federal navigation channel remains safe, reliable, and fully operational for commercial and military vessels.
According to USACE, the dredging operations are scheduled to begin this month, with estimated completion by next fall.
The Charleston District recently awarded a $28.1 million contract to The Dutra Group, based in San Rafael, California, to complete the project. The work focuses on maintaining two turning basins and approximately 19 miles of channel within the harbor.
“Regular maintenance dredging is essential to the continued operability of Charleston Harbor’s vital navigation infrastructure," said Jacob Kyzar, USACE project manager. “This work ensures the harbor remains a reliable, deep-water ocean port capable of supporting its vital defense mission and its role as the fourth-busiest container port on the East Coast.”
To maximize production, the contractor plans to utilize two mechanical dredges operating concurrently.
The dredged material will be loaded into scows and transported to the Charleston Ocean Dredged Material Placement Site, USACE said.