One of the Tacoma Port main containership terminals requires dredging since sediments limited its use making it difficult to berth ships at the terminal. The Port officials plan to spend $1.5 million to deepen water adjacent.
Conducted test proved that sediments have significantly reduced the depth along Piers 3 and 4.
According to the port’s lease with containership operator “K” Line, the port is obliged to make the ships able to tie up by maintaining a water depth of at least 51 feet at low tide.
The dredging permit is expected to be obtained at the end of this month. The Port of Tacoma will seek bids for this project in December. The dredging activities, due for completion by mid-February, will eliminate silt from an area more than a half-mile long and 150 feet wide on the east side of the Blair Waterway north of East 11th Street upon what the dredged material will be deposited in a deep water disposal area or on land.
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Dredging Today Staff, November 23, 2011; Image: portoftacoma