By Susan Hardee Steger
November 4, 2020
For the first time in 20 years, the federal channel, which provides access to the Port of Fernandina, will undergo maintenance dredging. The lack of regular dredging was limiting access to the Port of Fernandina by bigger ships due to silt buildup,
Since 2018, World Wide Terminals has been lobbying federal agencies, with Congressman Rutherford’s help, to support and fund the needed dredging project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is charged with maintaining federal channels.
At a cost of $4.5 million, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock will perform the dredging, and will remove 400,000 cubic yards of material.
According to Christopher Ragucci, CEO of World Wide Terminals, “Earlier this year, the Port of Fernandina deepened its own berths to 40 feet MLW [mean low water] based on a joint investment of nearly $500,000 by the operator and the Florida Dept. of Transportation.”
“With the completion of the channel maintenance dredging, the Port of Fernandina will be able to handle ships up to 40-feet of draft which is deeper than the Port of Brunswick, GA and which will allow the Port of Fernandina to achieve its full potential.”
I certainly hope that the 40 foot channel depth makes economic sense. Port of Fernandina should take advantage of all competitive advantages that it can since we’re sandwiched between a couple of much larger regional ports.
Jaxport (1500 acres) announced its channel dredging project a few years ago and is expected to have its 47 foot deep channel finished in 2022.
Brunswick (1700 acres) seems to do very well with a 36 foot deep channel while unloading and processing tens of thousands of automobiles a year.