- A brief description of the improvements that some U.S. Ports have implemented or will develop in order to benefit from the expanded Panama Canal -
by AmCham´s Trade Specialist - Radu Serrano
On June 26th 2016, the Panama Canal Expansion was inaugurated, thus doubling the capacity for container traffic and allowing the passage of LNG freighters which couldn´t transit the original Canal. In order to benefit from this new waterway, multiple American ports from the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico have been implementing improvements. The following article describes the planned / developed upgrades for some of these ports.
Panamax and Neo-Panamax
In order to better understand the port and harbor modifications, we will set up some reference values, which are the current maximum ship sizes that are allowed to transit through the Canal. Panamax cargo ships are those capable of passing through the original lock chambers. The Third Set of Locks allows bigger ships, called Neo-Panamax, to transit through them. The maximum permitted values are:
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Panamax |
Neo-Panamax |
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Length |
294.13 m (965 ft) |
366 m (1,200 ft) |
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Width |
32.31 m (106 ft) |
49 m (160.7 ft) |
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Draught |
12.04 m (41.2 ft) |
15.2 m (49.9 ft) |
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TEU |
5,000 |
13,000 |
Boston Harbor – Massachusetts
The Port of Boston is the closest U.S. Container Port to Europe and the 39th of the top 50 U.S. Water Ports, in regards to the tonnage handled in 2014, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. It manages containerized cargo, vacation cruises, petroleum and liquefied natural gas terminals, ship repair yards, public and private ferry operations, marinas and Boston’s commercial fishing fleet. The programmed improvements include:
- deepening the entrance channel from -40 feet to -47 feet, and in some areas up to -51 feet;
- widening and deepening segments near terminals up to -45 feet;
- deepening the Chelsea River Channel from -38 feet to -40 feet.
Status: In March 2016, the Massachusetts Port Authority Board approved the funding needed to begin the Harbor Dredging Project.
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New York and New Jersey Harbor – New York and New Jersey
The Port of New York and New Jersey is the largest of the East Coast and the 3rd of the top 50 U.S. Water Ports, in regards to the tonnage handled in 2014, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Its terminals manage a wide range of shipments, ranging from containers and RO-RO, to break bulk and heavy lift cargo. In September 2016, the Main Navigation Channel Deepening Program, which deepened the harbor to -50 feet to allow for larger ships to access the terminals at Port Newark, GCT Bayonne, and the Howland Hook Marine Terminal (GCT New York), was completed.
Status: Completed
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Charleston Harbor – South Carolina
The Port of Charleston is the fastest-growing major port in the U.S. and the 33rd of the top 50 U.S. Water Ports, in regards to the tonnage handled in 2014, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Managed by the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), it is currently building the only permitted new container terminal on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts. The first phase of the 280-acre terminal is planned for the 2019 fiscal year. The programmed improvements for the harbor include:
- deepening the navigation channel from -45 feet to -52 feet;
- deepening the entrance channel up to -54 feet;
- enlarging the turning basins.
Status: It is currently in the Preconstruction Engineering and Design (PED) Phase of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works Process. The construction phase is expected to begin in 2017, according to the South Carolina Ports Authority.
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Mississippi River Entrance and Channel – Louisiana
This project will directly benefit the Ports of South Louisiana, New Orleans and Plaquemines. The Port of South Louisiana has handled the largest volume tonnage in 2014, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. It caters to bulk and general cargo ships.
The Port of New Orleans is America’s most intermodal port and the 7th of the top 50 U.S. Water Ports, in regards to the tonnage handled in 2014, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. It manages general, containerized, heavy lift and refrigerated cargo, cruise terminals and ship repair facilities.
The Plaquemines Port is the closest energy port to the Eastern Gulf of México and the 12th of the top 50 U.S. Water Ports, in regards to the tonnage handled in 2014, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. It serves the expanding global markets for oil & gas, grain, coal, chemicals and more.
The proposed improvements include:
- deepening Mississippi River´s main navigation channel, the stretches between the Southwest Pass and the river´s mouth, and between New Orleans and Baton Rouge;
- (as a modification to the original aforementioned project) deepening the approaches and harbor of the Port of New Orleans.
Status: The proposal report has been recently presented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in partnership with the non-Federal sponsor (NFS), the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD). The Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which incorporates the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) (and which in turn includes the modification proposal of the Port of New Orleans), was signed by President Obama on December 16th, 2016. .
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Harbor of Corpus Christi – Texas
The Port of Corpus Christi is a recognized leader in the efficient handling of bulk petroleum, chemicals, minerals and grain, and is the 6th of the top 50 U.S. Water Ports, in regards to the tonnage handled in 2014, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The cargo types that it handles are: general/dry bulk, break bulk, liquid bulk and heavy lift.
A New Study Authorization request was submitted in the WRDA, which was part of the WIIN Act. It will address the feasibility of improvements to increase the size of the navigation channel and turning basins, and the creation of a new turning basin.
Status: The WIIN Act was signed by President Obama on December 16th, 2016.
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Sources: United States Congress, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Massachusetts Port Authority, Port of Boston, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Port of New York and New Jersey, South Carolina Ports Authority, Port of South Louisiana, Port of New Orleans, Plaquemines Port, Port of Corpus Christi, Journal of Commerce.