Port of Gulfport dredging project recommended for congressional authorization

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV)- The Port of Gulfport is moving one step closer to a major project that could reshape shipping along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The Port of Gulfport has cleared a significant hurdle in its efforts to modernize and expand its ship channel.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has officially recommended the dredging project for Congressional authorization through the Water Resources Development Act, moving the proposal one step closer to reality. Mississippi State Port Authority CEO John Nass said, “We were so excited to learn that we’ve reached a major milestone on our deepening and widening project. This is a project that the port has been working on for about four years now. We’ve been fortunate to have incredible support from Senator Wicker, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Congressman Ezell, the state of Mississippi and state and local officials. The whole community supporting this because it is a very significant project.”

The proposal would deepen the channel from 36 to 46 feet and widen it from 300 to 350 feet. Port leaders say those upgrades would allow larger cargo ships to reach Gulfport, helping the port stay competitive with other Gulf Coast hubs. “What it is, is a transformational project that can allow us to continue to be an economic driver on the Coast, but do so in an enhanced way. What that means is opportunities for businesses throughout the state of Mississippi to export through the Port of Gulfport as opposed to competing ports.”

Before dredging can begin, the project must receive congressional authorization and secure federal funding.

The total cost is estimated at $548 million.  Nass says this latest step is important, but there’s still work to do. “Following the chief’s report, we’re going to continue to work with our great congressional delegation to get the project authorized. That means an act of Congress and the Water Resources Development Act. We hope to do that within the next calendar year. Following that, we go into funding, design of the project, and then the most exciting part is the construction of the project.”

For now, port leaders are celebrating the latest progress while turning their focus to what comes next.