CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS: DE-AL
APPROPRIATION / PHASE: Operation & Maintenance, General
BUSINESS PROGRAM: Navigation
LOCATION: The project extends from the confluence of the Delaware River and the Christina River upstream, a length of about 9.9 miles. It is located 65 miles from the Atlantic Ocean.
DESCRIPTION: The existing project, adopted as HD 54-66 in 1896 and 1899, and modified by HD 67-114 in 1922, by HD 71-20 in 1930, by HD 73-32 in 1935, by HD 76-658 in 1940, by SD 86-88 in 1960, and further modified pursuant to the authority of Section 107 of the River and Harbor Act of 1960 (PL 86-645). The project provides for a channel with depths of 38, 35, 21, 10, and 7 feet from the Delaware River to Newport, DE, a turning basin 2050 feet long, 640 feet wide and 38 feet deep opposite the Wilmington Marine Terminal, and jetties at the mouths of Christina and Brandywine Rivers.
The Port of Wilmington is a full service Mid-Atlantic seaport strategically located to provide overnight access to 200 million North American consumers. Wilmington ranks as the world’s top banana port, and the nations leading gateway for imports of fresh fruit and juice concentrates. An economic engine for the State of Delaware and the region, it is responsible for over thousands of jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars in business revenue impact, and tens of millions of dollars in regional annual tax revenue. The Port is owned by the Diamond State Port Corporation, a corporation of the State of Delaware and operated by Gulftainer, USA.
STATUS: The annual maintenance dredging for both the 35-foot and 38-foot project channels and turning basin was completed in March of 2021. Approximately 735,000 cubic yards of material was removed. The following work will be accomplished in FY 2021: semi-monthly channel condition surveys and issuance of channel statements to the maritime community, disposal area maintenance and construction activities by in house hired-labor group along with earthwork preparation service contract work and environmental support services. The annual maintenance-dredging contract for both the 35-foot and 38-foot project channels and turning basin is scheduled to be advertised in August of 2021. Actual dredging should commence in November of 2021 with completion within approximately 30 days. Similar to FY20, it is anticipated that this work will be advertised as a consolidated contract with the Philadelphia to Sea, Maintenance Dredging solicitation. Work Plan funding will be utilized for earthwork preparation services at the Pedricktown confined disposal facilities.
PROJECT GOALS: The purpose of this project provides for a channel from the Delaware River to Newport, DE, a turning basin opposite of the Wilmington Marine Terminal, and jetties at the mouths of Christina and Brandywine Rivers.
PROJECT MANAGER: Daniel Kelly