New Plan Would Make Seattle One of US’ Deepest Ports
Photo: Port of Seattle
Photo: Eric Haun
A new report published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the Port of Seattle outlines a plan that would make the port one of the deepest harbors in North America.
Within the Seattle Harbor Navigation Improvement Project Draft Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment, the two parties have outlined a tentatively selected plan that would deepen the East and West Waterways to 57 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), enabling the port to handle the current and future generations of ultra-large containerships.
“The Port of Seattle, part of The Northwest Seaport Alliance, is a strategic gateway for goods entering the U.S. and vital for Northwest exports,” said Port of Seattle Commission President and The Northwest Seaport Alliance Co-Chair John Creighton.
“Large ships with deep drafts are being deployed globally and on the West Coast. Authorization of a depth of 57 feet will preserve our gateway’s ability to provide sufficient depth for the future fleet of ships,” stressed Port of Tacoma Commission President and The Northwest Seaport Alliance Co-chair Connie Bacon.
The study included extensive economic, technical and environmental analysis and modeling to evaluate an array of developed alternatives for deepening the waterways, and ultimately identified an option that maximizes national economic development benefits, is technically feasible and is environmentally sustainable, according to the report’s publishers.
The Port of Seattle, a partner in The Northwest Seaport Alliance, is the nonfederal project sponsor working with the Corps to complete this feasibility study.
Public comments on the proposed plan and alternatives will be considered through August 31, 2016, as the Corps works toward completing the navigation improvement plan.
