Dredging is commencing at Port of Brunswick’s inner and outer harbour with a view to returning the channel to its authorised depth.
“This is terrific news for our customers, who rely on the Port of Brunswick to serve the fast-growing Southeast market,” said Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch. “Deeper water will mean increased vessel transit efficiency at America’s premier auto port.”
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The federally funded work is part of annual maintenance dredging for the waterway.
The US Army Corps of Engineers project will address shoaling and other natural processes common to harbours across the country. Dredging is a normal requirement for harbour maintenance. Current dredging operations are expected to be complete in March, with additional work to be completed this summer.
“In partnership with the Georgia Ports Authority, we are advancing crucial improvements to Brunswick Harbor while launching a feasibility study to shape the future of the Savannah Harbor,” said Col. Ronald Sturgeon, Commander of the Savannah District for the US Army Corps of Engineers. “This work will enhance the safety and efficiency of these vital waterways to support economic growth for both Georgia and the nation. We are committed to making smart, data-driven decisions from the outset, keeping environmental sustainability front and centre.”
Bruce Fendig, president of the Brunswick Bar Pilots Association, said the channel upkeep allows Roll-on/Roll-off vessels to transit the channel with increased safety and efficiency.
“Greater depth also allows vessels loaded with more cargo to transit the channel without having to wait for high tide,” Fendig said.
The growing size of RoRo ships makes harbour maintenance increasingly important. Vessels with a capacity of 4,000 to 8,000 CEUs (car equivalent units) are now the most common newbuild size, enabling carriers to move more cargo in fewer trips. Vessels up to 10,000 CEUs are eventually expected to serve the US East Coast.
Port officials said improved efficiency in serving these larger vessels translates into lower costs for auto manufacturers and consumers.
Fourth berth being built at Colonels Island
The federal harbour project will complement the increasing capacity at Colonels Island, where construction on a USD100 million fourth berth for RoRo cargo is under way. The new berth is expected to be finished in the fall of 2027.
Additional harbour improvements coming
A separate Brunswick Harbor improvement project led by the Corps of Engineers is expected to start later this year. The Corps’ plan includes a bend widener and expansion of the turning basin – where tugboats help ships turn downriver for docking and quick departure.
Congress has already approved USD11.35 million for the federal share of the harbour improvements project. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and the state legislature have allocated just over USD6 million to cover the state’s share.
Lynch said increasing Brunswick’s cargo potential also increases GPA’s ability to support Georgia jobs and economic development. The Port of Brunswick became the nation’s busiest gateway for autos and heavy equipment in 2024, handling more than 900,000 units of RoRo cargo.
Georgia’s ports are economic engines for the state, supporting more than 650,000 full- and part-time jobs state-wide, which translates to 12 percent of total state employment, contributing USD43 billion in income earned by Georgians annually. Trade through the ports generates USD174 billion in sales for Georgia businesses each year, as reported by the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business in 2025.
Corps of Engineers to begin Savannah Harbor deepening study
The US Army Corps of Engineers will soon begin a feasibility study on deepening and widening the Savannah Harbor to better accommodate large vessels calling on the Port of Savannah.
Deeper water would allow large vessels to transit the Savannah River with fewer tidal restrictions. Wider sections would enable big ships to pass each other in two-way traffic, enhancing the efficient flow of cargo.
Congress recently approved the Energy and Water Appropriations Act of 2026, allocating USD500,000 to start the study. The Corps’ review will begin after it receives the federal funding and a cost-sharing agreement is reached with the state of Georgia. Total cost of the three-year study is expected to be USD3 million. The Corps of Engineers is overseeing the project because the Savannah Harbor is a federal waterway.
Lynch said larger, cleaner operating vessels are the future, and the federal waterway must be modernised to accommodate them for Georgia and the nation to remain competitive globally.