Miami Gets Environmental Permit for Port Dredging; Bids This Summer

The Port of Miami received a Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit allowing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin deepening of Port of Miami's channel to -50 feet, the port said. Bids will be sought this summer, with construction expected to start in early 2013, to be completed at the same time the expanded Panama Canal opens. Port Director Bill Johnson said the port will be one of only three U.S. Atlantic ports to be at -50 feet when the expanded Panama Canal opens, allowing it to accommodate new, larger Post-Panamax vessels that will be traversing the Canal. As the closest U.S. deep water port to Panama, PortMiami expects to benefit from new trade opportunities with Asian markets, it said.