Listen to this articleOfficials announced a series of new investments and collaborations between the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of the Port of New York and New Jersey.
The East Coast’s busiest container port supports more than 500,000 local jobs and transports more than $200 billion in goods annually. During the pandemic, the port handled cargo volumes 19% to more than 47% above pre-pandemic levels. Today, it is the second-busiest port in the nation and a vital link in the global supply chain.
The multifaceted package, announced at a press conference in Bayonne on Wednesday, includes:
- is more than $50 million Provides funding for berth maintenance dredging, berth rehabilitation, and berth reconstruction through the Port Maintenance Trust Fund.
- a $32 million The project to deepen Gravesend Anchorage outside the Kill Van Cull Channel. Expanding it from a current depth of 47 feet to 50 feet will provide space for larger ships to berth between Ambrose Anchorage in the Atlantic and the port’s container terminal.
- A future-oriented pre-construction engineering and design agreement between the parties that will advance plans to deepen the port channel to 55 feet in the 2040s, including inspection of the current channel, vessel simulation modeling and design, and construction of plans and specifications.
Preparing for the future
Officials said the new effort builds on a longstanding collaboration between the Port Authority and the Army Corps of Engineers. They noted that the waterway improvements complement the authority’s investments in the port’s land access, which includes an ongoing $220 million project to redesign and rebuild the Port of Newark’s northern entrance at Port and Corbin Streets.
“For nearly 50 million people across several states, our port provides food, shoes and a bed to sleep in,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “The port is a cornerstone of our regional economy, and we’re making that foundation even stronger with this multi-million dollar investment, working with our longtime partner, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.”
“Our Port’s flexibility and efficiency enabled us to absorb an unprecedented surge in cargo during the pandemic and assist when disaster struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “The Port’s success is built on our partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers, and we thank them for their long-standing support of the Port of New York and New Jersey.”
Bethan Looney, Port Authority Port Director, emphasized that the partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers strengthens the Port’s international reputation as a safe, stable and efficient commercial gateway to one of the densest customer bases in the United States.
“These projects will enable our ports to serve regions where demand for products produced overseas is steadily increasing,” Looney said. “The increased levels of cargo we saw during the pandemic will return as the new normal, and we, along with everyone in the supply chain, must prepare now for that future.”
Port Prioritization
“Maritime and commercial jobs throughout the region depend on a port that can handle the larger ships of the future,” said Bayonne Mayor Jimmie Davis. “The Port of New York-New Jersey must be able to compete with other ports across the nation and around the world.”
Davis pointed to the partnership between Bayonne and the Port Authority on projects such as raising the Bayonne Bridge.
“The road enhancement program has enabled vessel traffic to continue on the Kill Van Cull River,” Davis said, “and we’re excited about these new programs that will sustain jobs on the Bayonne waterfront and beyond.”
“Our collaboration with the Port Authority, the states of New York and New Jersey and the U.S. Coast Guard is essential to ensuring the port remains competitive and has the capacity to handle the large container ships that help drive our nation’s supply chains and spur economic growth,” said Michael Connor, assistant secretary for civil works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Connor said the plan is a major priority for the Biden administration.
“And it lays out an agreed-upon vision and strategy for the future ecological restoration of the region which, combined with upcoming navigation improvements, will ensure the Port of New York and New Jersey remains a first-class port for years to come,” Connor said.
