Harbor Deepening

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deepen the harbor to accommodate larger, deeper-draft vessels. A primary goal of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's port improvement program is providing superior ocean access to accommodate the demand for international cargo through our region. This will improve navigational safety and allow the port to accommodate the next generations of larger cargo vessels.

In 2005, work was completed on the 45-foot dredging of the Kill Van Kull and Newark Bay channels. These channels provide primary access to the Port Newark and the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal. The project, which began in 1999, was completed ahead of schedule.

With the 45-foot channel deepening completed, the corps has begun the next phase of the Harbor Deepening Project (HDP), which consists of deepening key channels to 50 feet.

The HDP will be complete in 2014, the same year that the Panama Canal's expansion is expected.