Gulfport, USACE ink dredging study agreement

Yesterday was a big first step in a long journey to make the Port of Gulfport more efficient and economically viable.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed an agreement with the Port of Gulfport to begin a years-long environmental and economic impact study into dredging the shipping channel into the Port of Gulfport.

“Our goal is to deepen it 10 feet,” said Jon Nass, CEO and executive director of the port.

“Just 10 feet. What that means is more economic prosperity for the community. What that means is more efficient, larger vessels being able to call here at the Port of Gulfport. And really what it means is just 10 feet away from complementing the great expansion we did post-Katrina.”

The dredging would go the length of the channel from the port to Ship Island, which is about 18 miles.

“This development will help bring better jobs and economic opportunity to our coast,” the Port said in its official statement.

The estimated $400 million project will be jointly funded by the federal government and the Port of Gulfport.