Dredging contractors have begun operations in the Port of Brunswick's inner and outer harbors to return the channel to its authorized depth.
The federally funded work is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) annual maintenance dredging for the waterway.
Dredging of the inner harbor is contracted to Southern Dredging Co. Inc., Charleston, S.C., using the hydraulic cutter suction dredge Brunswick, and the entrance channel work is contracted to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Corp., Houston, currently using the trailing suction hopper dredge Padre Island, Cheri Pritchard, media operations chief for the USACE Savannah District, told WorkBoat.
Maintenance dredging in the inner harbor began in December and is scheduled to be completed this month. Work in the entrance channel began in December and is expected to continue through August, Pritchard said.
"This is terrific news for our customers, who rely on the Port of Brunswick to serve the fast-growing Southeast market," Griff Lynch, president and CEO of Georgia Ports Authority, said in a statement. "Deeper water will mean increased vessel transit efficiency at America's premier auto port."
Bruce Fendig, president of the Brunswick Bar Pilots Association, said the channel upkeep allows roll-on/roll-off vessels to transit the channel with increased safety and efficiency. "Greater depth also allows vessels loaded with more cargo to transit the channel without having to wait for high tide," Fendig said.
The Port of Brunswick became the nation's busiest gateway for autos and heavy equipment in 2024, handling more than 900,000 units of RoRo cargo.
The growing size of RoRo ships makes harbor maintenance increasingly important, according to the port. Vessels with a capacity of 4,000 to 8,000 car equivalent units (CEU) are now the most common newbuild size. Vessels up to 10,000 CEU are eventually expected to serve the U.S. East Coast.
A separate Brunswick Harbor improvement project led by the USACE is expected to start later this year. The project includes a bend widener and expansion of the turning basin.
Congress has approved $11.35 million for the federal share of the harbor improvements project. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and the state legislature have allocated just over $6 million to cover the state's share.
The federal harbor project complements increasing capacity at Colonels Island, where construction on a $100 million fourth berth for RoRo cargo is underway. The new berth is expected to be finished in the fall of 2027.
"In partnership with the Georgia Ports Authority, we are advancing crucial improvements to Brunswick Harbor while launching a feasibility study to shape the future of the Savannah Harbor," said Col. Ronald Sturgeon, commander of the USACE Savannah District. "This work will enhance the safety and efficiency of these vital waterways to support economic growth for both Georgia and the nation. We are committed to making smart, data-driven decisions from the outset, keeping environmental sustainability front and center."
SAVANNAH HARBOR STUDY
The USACE will soon begin a feasibility study on deepening and widening the Savannah Harbor to better accommodate large vessels calling on the Port of Savannah.
Congress recently approved the Energy and Water Appropriations Act of 2026, allocating $500,000 to start the study. The Corps' review will begin after it receives the federal funding and a cost-sharing agreement is reached with the state of Georgia. Total cost of the three-year study is expected to be $3 million.
Deeper water would allow large vessels to transit the Savannah River with fewer tidal restrictions. Wider sections would enable ships to pass each other in two-way traffic.
Lynch said larger, cleaner operating vessels are the future, and the federal waterway must be modernized to accommodate them for Georgia and the nation to remain competitive globally.
