infrastructure supply chain management strategies will re-
act to the improved infrastructure if that improved infra-
structure increases supply chain responsiveness – reduces
lead times, and effi ciency – reduces costs,” says Ferrin.
“Since the WRDA 2016 deals directly with funding and
procedures for ‘water resources development’ its provisions
should have a direct impact on marine transport.”
Ferrin posits that some parts of the act serve to give the Army
Corps of Engineers more fl exibility in obtaining funding or
materials to support water resource development. “Such fl ex-
ibility likely would reduce the time it takes the Army Corps to
begin work on, and fi nish, approved projects.”
Ferrin also notes that other sections of the legislation
make it easier for smaller or newer ports and harbors to get
access to federal funding. “This could mean more ports
will have access to federal funding for development or
maintenance,” he says. “Such improvements likely would
attract better service – more vessel calls, more frequent ves-
sel calls – from marine carriers.”
The legislation and the funding formulas it allows,
should also aid next-generation Panamax vessels. These
vessels may now transit the Panama Canal due to its re-
cent widening. They require a depth of between 45 and 50
feet. Enabling waterways to accommodate such vessels is
expected to catalyze trade volume.
New Panamax ships can carry 120,000 DWT and
13,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), about twice
their previous capacity. Such large vessels mean signifi -
cantly more trade volume to ports who can accommodate
them. Accommodating them means suitable capital equip-
ment such as cranes and siding, but also waterway depth.
“In the era of a widening Panama Canal with the rise
in post-Panamax ships, the state of our ports is a concern
because the shipping industry will expand whether we are
ready for it or not,” said Representative Mark Sanford, a
Congressman whose district includes Charleston, SC and
voted in favor of the Act. “This bill will help us accommo-
date these larger shipping vessels by upgrading our ports,
through which 99% of US overseas cargo moves.”Wide Reaching Benefit
WRDA and WIIN are wide reaching. They will benefi t a
multitude of ports throughout the United States – which will
include ones that require a deep draft port as well as others
who need other studies and capital projects to commence.
Carl Uchytil, P.E. is the Port Director of Ports and Har-
bor for Juneau, Alaska. He is quick to point out that Alas-
ka can use the benefi t that this legislation is expected to
provide. “Alaska is a maritime state with over 33,000 milesof coastline,” says Uchytil, adding, “The ability to link
communities is crucial to building economically diverse
and resilience harbor communities. Recapitalization of ag-
ing and ineffi cient public infrastructure must be prioritize
by elected offi cials and embraced by the business commu-
nity.” More specifi cally, the role of economic development
through infrastructure improvement is greatly needed in
Juneau, Alaska, but in many ports throughout the country.
“WIIN will authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to im-
prove navigation and fl ood management, construct projects
to mitigate storm damage and assist local and state govern-
ments,” he says. “For Alaska, WIIN will require the Corps
of Engineers to carry out feasibility study of an Arctic Deep
Water port. The US is an Arctic nation because of Alaska, a
strategic Arctic port in this state is necessary to remain ac-
tive & infl uential in the polar regions. The bill also advances
the port and arbor infrastructure needs at St George, Craig,
Little Diomede, Elfi n Cove and Valdez. Progressing harbor
expansion and development plan at these locations will pro-
vide economic opportunities in rural Alaska.” Many other
ports also expect to benefi t from WIIN.
Brazos Island Harbor, in Brownsville, Texas also has
had plans to expand their waterways. One of their proj-
ects would increase the depth of the federal channel to 52
feet for portions of the inner channel and 54 feet for the
entrance channel. The total initial project cost is $207.5
million. The federal share will be $117.7 million, and the
non-federal share will be $89.8 million. This share alloca-
tion, however, could change with the WRDA of 2016 and
be more favorable to Brownsville.
For South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor, plans are to
deepen the entrance channel to 54 feet across the 800-foot
width, while reducing the existing stepped 1,000-foot top
channel width to 944-feet. Part of the the inner harbor will
be deepened from 45 feet to about 52 feet deep.
At Port Everglades in Broward County, Florida, a project
would increase the depth of the navigation channel to 48LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
42 MN February 2017