New York and New Jersey Harbor Deepening Channel Improvements (NYNJHDCI)

 

The Port of New York and New Jersey is the busiest container port on the East Coast and the second busiest container gateway in the United States. The Port of New York and New Jersey is typically the first port of call for the largest container vessels calling on the U.S. East Coast.

The existing Harbor Deepening Project consists of the main navigation channels in the Port of New York and New Jersey that support the container terminals.  The Harbor Deepening Project was constructed and is maintained at -50 feet MLLW and, in Ambrose Channel, -53 feet MLLW. 

Continued growth in vessel sizes calling the Port of New York and New Jersey has resulted in the Port receiving vessel calls larger than the design vessel of the 1999 study. The fleet of container vessels regularly calling on the Port of New York and New Jersey includes vessels that are depth constrained at the existing channel depth and experience maneuverability inefficiencies at the existing channel width.  This has a significant adverse effect on the economics and engineering design of the existing Harbor Deepening Project. Existing and Constructed 50-Foot Harbor Deepening Project

The purpose of this study (NYNJHDCI) is to determine if there are technically feasible, economically justifiable, and environmentally acceptable recommendations for federal participation in a navigation improvement project for the New York and New Jersey Harbor.   The NYNJHDCI final Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment contains the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) feasibility study planning process for channel improvements for the existing -50 foot Harbor Deepening Project.  The final report documents compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as incorporated into the planning process. 

The final integrated report presented the Tentatively Selected Plan as deepening the pathways from sea to Elizabeth – Port Authority Marine Terminal and Port – Jersey Port Authority Marine Terminal to either a maintained depth of -54 feet MLLW or -55 feet MLLW.  Refinements of the economic analysis since the final integrated report was released confirmed deepening the two pathways to a maintained depth of -55 feet MLLW is the plan that maximizes net benefits.  The Recommended Plan would deepen the pathways from sea to Elizabeth – Port Authority Marine Terminal and Port – Jersey Port Authority Marine Terminal to a maintained depth of -55 feet MLLW.


The final integrated report documents are available under 'Study Report' on the left side of this page.                                                          

Two public information sessions were held on December 3rd, 2020.  A recording of the presentation can be found by clicking here.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions can be found by clicking here.

Comments should be sent to HDCI_FREA_Comments@usace.army.mil


Questions regarding the Final FR/EA should be directed to either:Tentatively Selected Plan Footprint

Ms. Karen Baumert, Study Planner
New York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
c/o PSC Mail Center
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278-0090
E-mail: Karen.L.Baumert@usace.army.mil

Mr. Jesse Miller, Project Biologist
New York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
c/o PSC Mail Center
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY  10278-0090
E-mail: Jesse.L.Miller@usace.army.mil

 

Recent Public Meeting

New York Harbor

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District has played a major role in the navigation, development and maintenance of water resource activities in the New York and New Jersey Harbor Estuary for more than 200 years. From maintenance and channel dredging to drift removal and environmental restoration, the New York District has been involved in many facets of port improvement plans.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in conjunction with sponsor agencies and stakeholders, such as The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the states of New York and New Jersey, are committed to making the New York and New Jersey Harbor a world class estuary.

The New York District is in the study phase for several environmental projects including the Hudson Raritan Estuary Restoration Feasibility Study. As part of this study, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in partnership with the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program, have developed a Comprehensive Restoration Plan (CRP) for the Hudson Raritan Estuary. This Plan sets forth a consensus vision, master plan and strategy for future ecosystem restoration in the region.

There are also several ongoing environmental studies to assess environmental problems and potential solutions in areas including the Lower Passaic River and the Hackensack Meadowlands in New Jersey.

The New York Harbor is a major shipping port and center of commerce, and key navigation channels were deepened to 50 feet to meet the growing demands of the port. The Port of New York and New Jersey is the nation's third largest container port, indirectly and directly supporting more than 336,000 jobs in the region.

Significant navigation projects for the Port of New York and New Jersey included the 50 foot deepening of the Kill Van Kull, Ambrose, Port Jersey, Anchorage and Arthur Kill channels. The 50 foot channel deepening may be the most important and influential project related to modern day economics in the Northeast.  The $2.1 billion program was executed in a manner that allowed for over $800 million in savings and all the dredge material was used beneficially to enhance the environment.  Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has an ongoing Dredged Material Management Plan to support the beneficial use of dredged material.

For information about the the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers role in the New York Harbor, please contact the Public Affairs Office.