The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) has officially begun dredging and construction projects approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Boston harbor at a total cost of $350 million.
The Boston Harbor will be dredged to encourage larger vessels at Massport.
Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) has officially begun its $350 million Boston Harbor Dredging Project, as approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and backed by the International Longshoremen’s Association.
The state- and federally-funded, multi-phase project will support the growth experienced Conley Container Terminal with plans including maintaining the inner harbor and deepening the outer harbor.
“A deeper harbor means more container traffic, and that means more economic growth. It’s good for Greater Boston, it’s good for the Commonwealth, and it’s good for the entire region,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. “I was glad to partner with Massport and the Port of Boston and to fight for federal funding for this project, and I’m excited to see it begin.”
Massport will provide $130 million with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts providing $220 million in federal funding, including $18.2 million allocated in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers FY 2017 work plan and $58 million included in the President’s FY’18 budget. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has contracted with Great Lakes Dredge and Dock to perform the work, Massport stated.
“Boston Harbor is an economic engine for Massachusetts and the entire New England region, ensuring our industries, manufacturers, and workers are competitive in an increasingly globalized economy,” said Senator Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. “This strong federal investment will help further upgrade the harbor in order to accommodate more and larger ships, to bring in more jobs, more investment, and more economic prosperity.”
The first phase of the project consists of maintenance dredging, including the construction of a Confined Aquatic Disposal (CAD) Cell near Autoport in Charlestown by the end of the year, which is designed to hold tons of sediment from the floor of the harbor. The second phase of the project, slated for 2018, will deepen the Outer Harbor Channel from 40 to 51 feet, and the Main Shipping Channel from 40 to 47 feet.
Massport’s Reserve Channel, where Conley Container Terminal is located, will be dredged from 40 to 47 feet. Currently, the terminal is able to handle 8,500 TEU-ships; after the dredging is complete, the terminal will be able to handle up to 12,000 TEU-vessels.
“Investments we make today into the Port of Boston and the Conley Container Terminal are essential for New England to remain an important player in the global economy for years to come,” said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. “We are grateful to our state and federal partners, under the strong leadership of Governor Charlie Baker, Senators Warren and Markey and Congressman Lynch, for continuing to support the Port, help modernize Conley’s facilities and allow the Harbor to handle even larger ships.”
Economic development legislation signed by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker last year also permitted for Massport infrastructure investments at Conley Container Terminal, including the construction of a new berth and procurement of three new cranes to accommodate new, larger cargo ships, said Massport.
“Deepening Boston Harbor and supporting infrastructure investments at Conley Container Terminal are crucial to Massachusetts and New England’s competitiveness in the global marketplace,” said Governor Baker. “We are proud to work with our state and federal partners toward these improvements, supporting billions in economic activity and over 1,600 businesses creating thousands of local jobs.”