Miami dredging moves towards construction phase

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  • USACE awards multi-million dollar Deep Dredge project to Great Lakes Dock and Dredge

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has awarded Port Miami’s Deep Dredge Project contract to Great Lakes Dock and Dredge.

The multi-million dollar project will deepen the Floridian port’s navigation to a minimum of 50 feet. Dredging is scheduled to commence in August, and is expected to be completed in time for the opening of the expanded Panama Canal in 2015.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez called the awarding of the contract as a “major milestone for PortMiami”.

“The Deep Dredge project is vital to the future success and growth of our seaport,” added Mayor Gimenez.

“PortMiami will be the only US East Coast port south of Virginia to be at the required minus 50 feet level in time to welcome the new generation of larger container cargo vessels arriving via the expanded Panama Canal.”

The dredge project includes the restoration of more than 16 acres of sea grass in northern Biscayne Bay and the creation of over nine acres of artificial reef. In order to minimize impact on existing resources, the port’s mitigation measures include the relocation of hard coral colonies greater than 25 centimetres (cm) and those that are between 10 and 25 cm. Additionally, divers will be in the water adjacent to the project to monitor natural resources for turbidity and sedimentation effects before, during and after all dredging activities ensuring the highest environmental protection monitoring protocols outside of a national marine sanctuary.

Thanks to the pledge of US$112 million from Governor Rick Scott and the State of Florida, the PortMiami Deep Dredge remains on schedule to open in sync with the expanded Panama Canal, helping transform Florida into a global logistics hub.

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