U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin $28M maintenance dredging in Charleston Harbor

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will soon begin a $28.2 million maintenance dredging project in the lower Charleston Harbor to ensure the shipping channel remains safe and fully operational, officials announced.

The Charleston District recently awarded a $28,175,500 contract to The Dutra Group, based in San Rafael, California, to complete the work. Operations are scheduled to commence this month, with an estimated completion date set for next fall.

The project focuses on maintaining two turning basins and approximately 19 miles of channel in the harbor.

“Regular maintenance dredging is essential to the continued operability of Charleston Harbor’s vital navigation infrastructure,” Jacob Kyzar, a project manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said. “This work ensures the harbor remains a reliable, deep-water ocean port capable of supporting its vital defense mission and its role as the fourth-busiest container port on the East Coast.”

To maximize efficiency, the contractor plans to operate two mechanical dredges concurrently. The dredged material will be loaded into scows and taken to the Charleston Ocean Dredged Material Placement Site.

Charleston Harbor is one of the nation’s 17 strategic ports, playing a key role in national defense and serving as a major economic driver for the East Coast.

While the lower harbor requires annual maintenance dredging, the entrance channel is typically dredged every other year, and the upper harbor is serviced every 15 to 18 months. The broader federal navigation project spans more than 38 miles of channel, three turning basins, an anchorage basin and four dredged material placement areas.

Active dredging vessels will be navigating the harbor during construction. Maritime officials urge mariners to use extreme caution and monitor official VHF radio channels for local navigation updates.

All project equipment must display required navigation lighting, monitor communications, and maintain active Automatic Identification System transponders while operating.