The current generation of Post-Panamax containerships require channels from 45 to 53 feet to sail safely. Balancing Economy and Environment Maintaining the proper depth in navigation channels allows ships to move safely through harbors. Each year several hundred million cubic yards of sand, gravel and silt must be removed from waterways and harbors to improve navigation safety and allow for waterborne trade. Deepening or maintaining navigation channels requires dredging . All dredging projects take environmental considerations into account.
Ports look at a variety of dredged material disposal options as part of their deepening projects.
Planning such projects is part of the role ports play to balance economic reality with environmental requirements. Balancing the economy and environment rate highly on issues that are strategically important to ports. In the U.S., funding to maintain and improve ports is a shared responsibility between the public and private sectors. In order to accommodate growing trade and larger vessels, ports must purchase larger cranes to move containers, make improvements in wharves, build new storage facilities and purchase new handling equipment. They have to make improvements in roadways, rail lines, lighting and parking areas on and off their terminals.