A host of dignitaries recently kicked off the Boston Harbor Dredging Project.
The $350 million state and federally funded project will deepen the outer harbor, main shipping channel and reserved channel, and dredge the inner harbor. By deepening the outer harbor and channels, the harbor will be able to accommodate larger vessels.
The outer harbor channel will be deepened from 40 to 51 feet, the main shipping channel from 40 to 47 feet and the reserved channel from 40 to 47 feet.
Dignitaries included Gov. Charlie Baker, Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA), and local government officials, as well as members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the International Longshoremen’s Association, and the Massachusetts Port Authority.
“Deepening Boston Harbor and supporting infrastructure investments at Conley Container Terminal is crucial to Massachusetts and New England’s competitiveness in the global marketplace,” Baker said. “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.”
The Port of Boston and Conley Container Terminal generates $4.6 billion annually. Twelve of the world’s top 15 shipping lines use the Port of Boston.
Conley Container Terminal, on the reserved channel, will be able to accommodate 12,000 20-foot-equivalent-unit cargo ships.