PORT CANAVERAL, FL— April 24, 2008 – The Canaveral Port Authority has taken a major step toward providing for the future growth of Port Canaveral with the completion and submission of its feasibility report for the widening of the Canaveral Harbor and other navigation improvements to Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) John Paul Woodley, Jr. 

This report, the result of more than two years of work, is authorized by Congress under Section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) as an avenue for expediting the project. Upon review and approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the project is sent to Congress for funding in the next WRDA legislation, then funding under appropriation legislation.

"This project is the result of the focused decision of the Commission to expedite the channel widening," says Commissioner Ralph Kennedy, Secretary/Treasurer of the Port Authority Board, who presented an update for the Commission based on his recent trip to Washington. "Only a strong collective effort could have successfully brought us to this point." 

The project will consist of widening and deepening the entrance and access channels, enlarging and deepening the West Turning Basin, and providing additional navigation aids to the harbor. The estimated construction cost for this project is $41 million, which will be shared by the Port Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 
"A deeper, wider channel and expanded turning basin will increase the efficiency of our current operations and position us to better accommodate the growing sizes of both cruise and cargo ships," says Port Canaveral CEO Stan Payne. 

The manmade Canaveral harbor channel, dedicated in 1953, currently is 400 feet wide and 3˝ miles long with depths from 44 feet at the entrance to 35 feet in the West Turning Basin. The last major navigation improvements performed by the Corps were completed in 1995. The proposed project will widen the channel to 500 feet as well as increase the size of the West Turning Basin.

"The Board already has invested $2.5 million in Port Authority funds in this federal project because of the crucial timeline we face for expanding the harbor and, thus, the opportunities for new business," says Joe Matheny, Chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners. 

"The widening and deepening of the channel is important and I am actively supporting this effort on the federal level, with funding and Congressional authorization," says Florida Congressman Dave Weldon, whose district includes Port Canaveral. "I commend the Port for their vision and important and growing economic contributions to our community."

Florida Congressman Tom Feeney, who represents Brevard County in which the Port district resides, adds "Improved access to Canaveral Harbor will enhance safety, reduce costs, and help remove hurdles that many ships currently face. I am thankful the Port Authority recognizes the benefits from widening and enlarging the basin and I will do my part to help support with federal funds." 

"I am pleased to see that the Port Authority has reached this important step toward widening and deepening Port Canaveral," says Florida Senator Bill Nelson. "These efforts will ensure that the Port continues to be an efficient economic engine in the community."