SHEP Starts This Week

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is ready to mark the beginning of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at 1 Old Fort Jackson Road in Savannah.

The recovery of the CSS Georgia ironclad from the floor of the Savannah River will be the first action undertaken in this phase of the SHEP.

Col. Thomas Tickner, commander of the Savannah District, together with the district’s archaeologist, divers conducting the recovery, the Georgia Ports Authority representatives, will attend this milestone event.

“This event marks the first construction work on the Savannah Harbor Expansion project. We are marking today as the first tangible sign of deepening this harbor. This marks a major milestone toward making this harbor more efficient. It is the key to unlocking so much of the infrastructure already built or planned for the next generation,” said Tickner for WJCL News.

The Corps awarded the initial contract for recovery of the CSS Georgia to Dial Cordy and Associates of Jacksonville, Florida.

About the SHEP

The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) will deepen the Savannah Harbor federal shipping channel from a depth of -42 feet to -47 feet. Studies demonstrate the deepening will produce substantial economic benefits for the nation by enabling larger and more heavily-loaded vessels to call on the harbor with fewer tidal delays.

The total project cost estimate is currently $706 million. The SHEP is expected to net more than $174 million in annual benefits to the nation and has a benefit-to-cost ratio of $5.50 for every $1 invested.

Costs of the studies and construction are shared between the U.S. government and the state of Georgia.

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