Page 36: of Marine News Magazine (June 2014)

DREDGING & INFRASTRUCTUREand containerization have together spurred investment in deepening, expanding and building ports and enlarging channels.Of the millions of tons of goods shipped globally each year, crude oil accounts for over 20 percent and containers for over 15 percent, followed by iron ore, coal and LNG. Very large crude carriers or VLCCs and ultra-large crude carriers or ULCCs, both introduced in the 1970s, have sparked port expansion and dredging. And ever-larger ves- sels for containers, which were launched in 1966, have greatly boosted dredging demand. To maximize economies of scale, dry goods are increasingly shipped via containers. As container vessels grow, customers beneÞ t from lower costs, raising demand for goods and prompting investment in even bigger boats. In 1980, the worldÕs largest vessels shipped 4,100 TEUs or twenty foot containers, and by 2012 that had bal- looned to15,000 TEUs. As of 2014, seven of Denmark- based Maersk ÒTriple EÓ containerships, with a capacity of 18,000 TEUs and a draft of 14.5 meters or 48 feet, were in service globally, with more about to be delivered by the company or under construction. TheyÕre too big for the Panama CanalÕs new dimensions and most American ports, but can transit the Suez Canal for trips between Eu- rope and Asia. After the Panama CanalÕs expansion is Þ nished in 2015, container vessels of up to 13,000 TEUs with a maximum draft of 15 meters, a length up to 366 meters and a width of 49 meters can be accommodated.Most of the worldÕs busiest ports, including Long Beach and Los Angeles in California, can handle huge container vessels with a draft of 14.5 meters. RotterdamÕs heavily dredged Maasvlakte II port is 20 meters deep. U.S. ports, including New York City, Norfolk and Baltimore, have in- creased depths to at least 15 meters or 50 feet, and the Port of Miami is doing so now. Port Deepening & Post-Sandy Work The biggest U.S. dredging projects now are maintenance work, port deepening and activity following Sandy in Oc- tober 2012. When asked about projects, Barry Holliday, executive director of trade group Dredging Contractors of America in Washington, DC, said: ÒCurrently the top two jobs in dollars are $174,111,456 for Miami Harbor deep- ening, awarded in May 2013 and expected to continue un- til mid-2015, and $68,681,500 for deepening the Arthur Kill in New York/New Jersey Harbor, awarded in January 2013 and to be completed this year.Ó USACE photo: NY/NJ Harbor dredging action. June 201436 MNMN June14 Layout 32-49.indd 36MN June14 Layout 32-49.indd 365/20/2014 10:22:12 AM5/20/2014 10:22:12 AM