Savannah Harbor Expansion Project: GLDD Raises the Bar

Photo Credits: AeroPhoto, GLDD, USACE-Savannah District

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company (GLDD) last week received formal acceptance of its Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) dredging operations which removed over 12 million cubic yards of soil during the deepening of the 20 mile long offshore entrance channel of the Port of Savannah.

Under the USACE Savannah District’s contract, GLDD completed the project ahead of schedule and below budget.

Environmental restrictions related to sea turtles and sturgeon populations in the shipping channel limited hopper dredging work to between December 15 and March 31 each winter season.

This required multiple vessels working simultaneously to execute the $134 million project.

The SHEP project also includes deepening of the remaining 22 miles of channel in the harbor from near Jones Island to the Garden City port. Jones Island is between Fort Pulaski and Tybee Island.

In recognition of reaching the midpoint of the overall SHEP with completion of the offshore channel, officials with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Georgia Ports Authority and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company LLC, traveled to the Padre Island, the hopper dredge that performed the final section of dredging.

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