South Carolina Ports Authority Reimbursed For Dredging
Fourteen years since the project’s beginning, the South Carolina Ports Authority has received the final reimbursement for the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project, a total of $21.28 million from the Charleston Engineer District’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Work Plan.
The $580 million project deepened the harbor to 52 feet, making it the deepest harbor along the East Coast. According to a news release from South Carolina Ports, the project removes tidal restrictions, improves efficiency and cargo flow and attracts new shipping services and business investments.
“Completing the largest project in our district’s history, on time and within budget, is a testament to the strength of our partnership with the South Carolina Ports Authority, Sen. [Lindsey] Graham and other state and federal leaders,” said Lt. Col. Todd Mainwaring, district commander of the Charleston Engineer District. “Together, we moved over 40 million cubic yards of material to make Charleston Harbor the deepest on the East Coast. This project is more than an engineering milestone; it’s a strategic investment in our nation’s infrastructure and economic future.”
In its August 18 announcement, the port recognized Graham for his efforts in moving the project forward, crediting him as the driving force behind planning and gaining federal funding.
“Infrastructure projects like the Harbor Deepening Project are massive undertakings that require collaboration and teamwork with our state and federal leaders,” SCPA President and CEO Barbara Melvin said. “We were able to get this project across the finish line and get reimbursed expeditiously thanks to Sen. Graham’s leadership and over a decade of tenacious hard work. We are thankful for his support so South Carolina Ports can continue to remain competitive in the thriving Southeast.”
Graham praised the news.
“This is great news for the Port of Charleston and the people of South Carolina,” he said. “Success doesn’t just happen. You’ve got to roll up your sleeves and stay engaged, and that’s what we did.”
According to the Charleston Engineer District, studies were completed for the initiative in 2010 in response to transportation inefficiencies, and it was one of the first seven projects expedited under President Barack Obama’s “We Can’t Wait” initiative to address critical infrastructure projects in the United States. Congressional authorization for the project was given in 2015, with construction from 2018 to 2023.
Graham recognized government leaders, including President Donald Trump, in his response to the final funding.
“As a state, federal and local team, we devised a creative solution to ensure that South Carolina Ports had the deepest harbor on the East Coast,” Graham said. “The deepening of the Charleston Harbor is about jobs, both today and in the future. It also ensures that the port remains a multi-billion-dollar economic engine that will continue to benefit South Carolina and the rest of the country. Gov. [Henry] McMaster, Sen. [Hugh] Leatherman and their colleagues invested state money up front to make sure the harbor deepening project stayed on track. I committed early on to ensure the federal government reimbursed South Carolina for this important investment. With this announcement from the Army Corps of Engineers, we have fulfilled that promise. I am very grateful to the Trump administration for making this happen.”
————
Featured photo caption: Sen. Lindsey Graham spoke outside the South Carolina Ports Authority as the port was awarded its last $21.28 million of needed funding. (Photo courtesy of South Carolina Ports)
