Georgia leaders discuss Port of Brunswick harbor deepening project

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (WTOC) - The Port of Brunswick hasn’t been deepened since 2007, and this is causing issues for incoming ships. It isn’t operating at its full capacity because of that.

“If we don’t get this widened out if we don’t keep this thing at the right depth, then they’re not going to be able to utilize these facilities,” said Georgia Republican Congressman Mike Collins.

Brunswick is the busiest port for roll-on and roll-off cargo. The last deepening was done 18 years ago. Representative Collins visited the port to see it firsthand and address the changes he thinks need to be made.

“You can actually see the water breaking out there where they need to widen that bend. You know, it’s almost like a beach. So when you can take those stories back with you to Washington, D.C., it has a much greater impact,” said Rep. Collins.

Colonel’s Island Terminal handled more than 900,000 units of RoRo cargo last year.

Leaders said several factors have contributed to the port being below the authorized dimensions. Including, insufficient cost estimates, demand from other ports, lack of available equipment, and a limited dredging window. According to a release from the port, the dredge has had to leave Brunswick for emergency dredging at other ports.

It’s designed to be 38 feet deep and 500 feet wide but sits at less than 35 currently feet. If the channel were dredged to the authorized 38 feet- ships drafting as deep as 32.8 feet could come through.

Savannah and Charleston’s bids were within the price range for the Army Corps of Engineers last year, so they were deepened. Wilmington’s and Brunswick’s bids came in too high. This is something Congressman Collins said is a priority to get fixed.

Dredging is also a necessary maintenance step to address the natural process of shoaling sand.

“When you actually come out here and you visit and you see people and you eyeball the people that it’s impacting,” said Congressman Collins.

The next step is to go through the congressional budget process. This dredging was supposed to be completed prior to October and has yet to be completed this year because Congress has not yet agreed on a budget.

In the meantime, Representative Collins said it won’t be on the backs of taxpayers entirely.

“They pay every time they come into our ports. And that tax that they pay goes towards keeping the maintenance done on these channels. It’s not just taxpayers money that goes towards it,” said Rep. Collins.

A work plan will be implemented 60 days after the budget is approved. The Brunswick Port is hopeful the USACE and the federal government will set the correct budget to get to the designed depth there once again.