DESCRIPTION: The Port of New York and New Jersey (PONYNJ) is a conduit of global commerce and a major generator of jobs and economic activity in the region. The Port is the largest port on the East Coast of North America, the second largest in the nation, and one of the most productive high-volume port operations globally. The federal navigation channel system includes various terminals and associated facilities within PONJNY. The Port’s catchment area that lies within 260 miles of Newark Bay and includes all or part of 17 states. Getting goods into the hands of the consumers through an efficient and reliable transportation network is the cornerstone of the Port’s competitive edge with global markets.
The Port has premier access to rail, road, and inland waterway routes to transport goods to 23 million local consumers and up to 100 million customers within 36 hours at markets all over the U.S. and Canada. The Port’s six container terminals receive vessels from all the world’s major ocean carriers serving nearly every region of the world. Of the services that call on the Port of New York and New Jersey, 74 percent are first calls. Currently, channels to the NY/NJ harbor are inadequate to provide access to the large post-Panamax ships, which have drafts of 48 feet or more.
The HDCI Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment, completed in May 2022, examined the possibility of improving navigation within the harbor. A Chief’s Report was signed on 03 June 2022. The study team used a design vessel classified as an Ultra Large Container Vessel with a length of 1,300 ft and a carrying capacity of 18,000 TEUs. The array of alternatives included widening, bend-easing, and/or deepening the existing navigation channels from the Atlantic Ocean to PANYNJ’s six terminals within the harbor. The NED plan moving forward is to deepen the federal navigation channels by 5 feet to a maintained depth of -55 feet MLLW. The channels included in the project are: Ambrose Channel, Anchorage Channel, the Kill Van Kull, Newark Bay Channel, South Elizabeth Channel, and Elizabeth Channel, and Port Jersey Channel.
STUDY AUTHORIZATION: Section 216 of Rivers and Harbors Act of 1970, Section 435 of WRDA 1996, and Section 101(a)(2) of WRDA 2000.
PROJECT AUTHORIZATION: Section 8401 of WRDA 2022 (Public Law 117-263) at an estimated construction cost of approximately $6.3B over 16-20 years.
PROJECT STATUS: On 29 May 2024, a Design Agreement was executed between the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA-CW) and the Director of the Port Authority. The signing was followed by a ceremony with elected officials and the press at the Port facilities in Bayonne, New Jersey. The ceremony marked the HDCI project entering the Pre-construction, Engineering and Design phase (PED).
This design effort will take approximately four years to complete the initial sub-surface investigations, ship simulation and hydrodynamic modeling, culminating in a detailed set of plans and specs for the first construction contract.
Funding in a future budget will be required to initiate construction. Subject to the availability of funding, a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) would be executed with the Port Authority and construction initiated. The first construction contract, located in Newark Bay North, is anticipated for award in early 2029.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS: NY-05, NY-07, NY-08, NY-10, NY-11 and NJ-06, NJ-08, NJ-10, NJ-11
CONTACT:
Seth Greenwald, PMP
Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278-0090
(917) 790-8030