Jacksonville Harbor to undergo annual maintenance dredging starting mid-march 2025

In mid-March 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin dredging work along Jacksonville Harbor’s Federal Navigation Channel, a process scheduled to be completed by September 2025, weather permitting. This year’s dredging will focus on removing critical shoaling along the channel, which can interfere with safe vessel passage.

Jacksonville Harbor’s strategic location in Florida makes it a pivotal point in both national and international shipping routes. As a deep-water port, it serves large vessels that transport cargo to and from the U.S. East Coast, playing an essential role in global trade.

The harbor consists of a series of channels that extend from the ocean entrance to key terminals such as Dames Point Terminals and Talleyrand Marine Terminal, vital facilities that support both import and export activities. These deep-draft vessels depend on the harbor’s infrastructure to facilitate the movement of goods, including bulk cargo, containers, and other high-demand commodities.

The Jacksonville Port Authority (JPA), in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, coordinates the upkeep and development of the harbor. Together, they ensure the harbor remains open and operational, providing a competitive edge for Jacksonville in the increasingly globalized shipping industry.

Jacksonville Harbor is one of Florida’s most important maritime hubs, providing access for large, deep-draft vessels to vital terminal facilities within the city. As one of the busiest ports in the U.S., it plays a central role in facilitating trade, driving the local economy, and connecting the region to international markets. To maintain the harbor’s functionality and ensure continued access for these massive vessels, annual maintenance is required. This includes dredging, a process crucial for ensuring safe navigation and the efficient flow of goods. In mid-March 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin dredging work along Jacksonville Harbor’s Federal Navigation Channel, a process scheduled to be completed by September 2025, weather permitting. This year’s dredging will focus on removing critical shoaling along the channel, which can interfere with safe vessel passage.

The dredging project, set to begin in mid-March 2025, aims to remove critical shoaling along the Federal Navigation Channel. Shoaling occurs when sediment accumulates in the waterway, causing the channel to shallow, which can pose significant risks to large vessels navigating the area. Removing these shoals will improve vessel safety, enhance navigation efficiency, and help maintain the channel’s depth to accommodate the increasing size of modern ships.

The dredging work will cover several sections of the channel, ensuring that vessels can access the harbor with ease. The project will focus on maintaining the following depths:

• 47 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) from the ocean entrance to Dames Point Terminals (River Mile 13).
• 40 feet MLLW through River Mile 20 at Talleyrand Marine Terminal.
• 34 feet MLLW in Cuts F/G of the West Blount Island Channel.

By maintaining these authorized depths, Jacksonville Harbor will continue to support large vessels that are critical to the economic vitality of the region.