The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced a comprehensive investment package in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to enhance navigational safety and efficiency at the East Coast’s busiest container port.
These investments aim to significantly improve the safety and efficiency of the Port of New York and New Jersey, fostering the growth of a national economic powerhouse that supports over half a million regional jobs and facilitates the movement of goods worth more than US$200 billion annually.
“For about 50 million people across several states, this port is the reason why we have food to eat, shoes on our feet and beds to go to sleep. The port is the economic foundation on which the region is built, and now we’re strengthening that foundation even further with millions of dollars of investment alongside our longtime partners at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” stated Kevin O’Toole, Port Authority chairman.
The collaborative investments between the Port Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers include over US$50 million from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for berth maintenance dredging, rehabilitation, and reconstruction at the seaport.
In addition, a separate US$32 million project will deepen and widen the Gravesend Anchorage outside the Kill van Kull waterway from its current depth of 47 feet to 50 feet. This enhancement will provide a location for large ships to anchor between Ambrose Anchorage in the Atlantic Ocean and the seaport’s container terminals.
“This partnership with the Army Corps helps the Port of New York and New Jersey bolster its international reputation as a safe, steady and efficient commercial gateway for the densest population of customers in the United States. These projects will make it possible for our seaport to serve a region whose demand for products made overseas is steadily increasing. The levels of cargo growth we saw during the pandemic will return as the new normal, and we – along with everyone in the supply chain – must prepare now for that future,” commented Bethann Rooney, director of the Port Department at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Having an anchorage space large and deep enough to accommodate the largest container ships improves the port’s safety and efficiency, allowing these ships to move closer to the port during inspections, refuelling, or inclement weather, and providing an emergency refuge area in case of mechanical or navigational issues.
During the pandemic, the Port of New York and New Jersey handled cargo volumes ranging from nearly 19% to more than 47% above pre-pandemic levels. In 2022, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was the nation’s busiest port for four consecutive months during the industry’s peak shipping period. Currently, the Port of New York and New Jersey is the country’s second-busiest port and a vital link in the global supply chain.
The package of waterway improvement initiatives complements the Port Authority’s investments in land access at the port, including an ongoing US$220 million project to redesign and rebuild the northern entrance of Port Newark at Port and Corbin streets. This interchange is a vital connection to the New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 78, providing access to one of the seaport’s busiest marine facilities.
Additionally, the Port Authority has invested over US$600 million to modernize its on-dock intermodal facilities, which link the port to the national freight rail network, offering greater flexibility for port stakeholders.
