BALTIMORE -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, awarded a $33.5 million contract to Curtin Maritime Corp. of Long Beach, California, for Baltimore Harbor and channels maintenance dredging for Fiscal Year 2025.
In coordination with the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Port Administration, the project consists of dredging approximately 2.3 million cubic yards of material from federal navigation channels in Maryland associated with the Baltimore Harbor, ensuring continued safe navigation for vessels traveling in and out of the Port of Baltimore.
“Baltimore Harbor channels rely on maintenance dredging to serve and strengthen the Port of Baltimore, a major economic engine for the state of Maryland, the mid-Atlantic region and the nation,” said Baltimore District Commander Col. Francis Pera. “We remain committed to working alongside our partners at the Port Administration to maintain these vital channels, reduce safety risks to navigation, and ensure the Port of Baltimore remains a world-class port that can accommodate consistent vessel flow for megaships efficiently.”
All dredged material will be removed via a hybrid-powered clamshell dredge and transported by barge to respective placement sites. The removed material consists primarily of mud, silt, sand, shell, and other mixtures. Approximately 1.74 million cubic yards of material will be dredged from various Maryland approach channels — Craighill Entrance and Angle, Cutoff Angle, and Upper Range Channels — and beneficially reused at the Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island, located in Talbot County. In addition, approximately 550,000 cubic yards of material dredged from the Fort McHenry and Curtis Creek Channels will be placed at the Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility.
These channels are used by large container ships traveling to and from Port of Baltimore facilities. They will be dredged to their respective authorized dimensions, plus an allowable overdepth of 1 foot.
Maintenance dredging of the Maryland channels is expected to begin mid-November, with an estimated completion date of March 2025.
For more information on the Baltimore Harbor and Channels project, go to https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16021coll11/id/541.
Additional Information
Baltimore District delivers vital engineering solutions in collaboration with its partners to serve and strengthen the Nation, energize the economy, and reduce disaster risks. Headquartered near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, Baltimore District provides design, engineering, construction, environmental, and real estate expertise to various important projects and customers. This support spans five states, the District of Columbia, overseas, and the Susquehanna, Potomac, and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. These civil and military missions and diverse engineering services support communities and warfighters while addressing the ever-growing list of emerging national security requirements and ultimately protecting the Nation.
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