Local officials recently kicked off the Boston Harbor Dredging Project, a $350 million state- and federally funded multiphase project designed to support continued growth at Conley Container Terminal.
The terminal has had three consecutive record-breaking years for volume, including over 256,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in fiscal year 2017 – a 3.9 percent increase over fiscal year 2016. The port and terminal generate $4.6 billion in economic activity, support 7,000 direct jobs and service exports and imports for 1,600 businesses across Massachusetts and New England.
“Deepening Boston Harbor and supporting infrastructure investments at Conley Container Terminal are crucial to Massachusetts and New England’s competitiveness in the global marketplace,” Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. “We are proud to work with our state and federal partners toward these improvements, supporting billions in economic activity and over 1,600 businesses creating thousands of local jobs.”
Project plans include maintaining the inner harbor and deepening the outer harbor, main shipping channel and reserved channel to allow for larger container ships already calling Conley Container Terminal following the expansion of the Panama Canal.
Economic development legislation proposed and signed by Baker last year also permitted $107.5 million for Massport infrastructure investments at Conley Container Terminal, including the construction of a new berth and procurement of three new cranes to accommodate new, larger cargo ships.
The first phase of the project consists of maintenance dredging, including the construction of a confined aquatic disposal (CAD) cell just off the shore of the Autoport in Charlestown, which will safely hold tons of sediment from the floor of the harbor. This work is expected to continue through the end of the year.
The second phase of the project, scheduled to begin in mid-2018, will deepen the Outer Harbor Channel, from 40 feet to 51 feet; the Main Shipping Channel, from 40 feet to 47 feet; and the Reserve Channel, where Conley Container Terminal is located, from 40 feet to 47 feet. Currently, Conley is able to handle 8,500 TEU ships. This project will allow it to handle up to 12,000 TEU vessels.
