Ala. harbor dredging; dock expansion

MOBILE, Ala. – The Alabama State Port Authority announced it has received authorization from the Army Corps of Engineers to modernize Mobile Harbor allowing for the accommodation of larger vessels and improving transit efficiencies at the Port of Mobile. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) South Atlantic Division signed the Record of Decision for the Mobile Harbor General Reevaluation Report (GRR) and Integrated Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on Sept. 6. USACE will next execute a design agreement with the port authority. Construction on the modifications could begin in late 2020. The proposed improvement project would deepen the existing Bar, Bay and River Channels to 52 feet, 50 feet, and 50 feet respectively. The project also includes widening the Bay Channel by 100 feet (for 3 nautical miles) to accommodate two-way vessel traffic, expanding a Post-Panamax-sized turning basin. Shoreside, the Alabama State Port Authority and its partner APM Terminals have been expanding the terminal to meet year-over-year growth. A $50M expansion was completed in 2017. In 2018, another $50M expansion was launched. A phase three expansion, when completed in February 2020, will extend the dock to allow for simultaneous berthing of two Post-Panamax-sized vessels. (Source: Alabama State Port Authority 09/09/19): Alabama State Port Authority 09/09/19) http://www.asdd.com/newsroom.html.