JaxPort dredging project gets underway

The project to deepen the federal shipping channel from 40 feet to 47 feet began Saturday after a decade of study, independent review, public input and full regulatory approval.    The Jacksonville Harbor Deepening project, an effort to deepen the federal river channel from 40 feet to 47 feet, has officially commenced.
   Contractors for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started the project Saturday after it went through a decade of study, independent review, public input and full regulatory approval, according to the Jacksonville Port Authority (JaxPort).
   “What a huge day for our city, our region and our state,” JaxPort CEO Eric Green said. “Effective federal, state and local leaders working together with our maritime and business communities made this a reality. It is exhilarating to see this historic project come to life.”
   Construction of the project’s first segment is expected to take about two years.
   The Port of Jacksonville, Florida’s largest container port complex, moved over 1.3 million containers last year. The Asian container trade, with cargo moving aboard the largest ships calling the U.S. East Coast, is the fastest growing segment of its container cargo business.