What does the port dredge?
The port dredges the clay, sand, silt and sediments that collect at the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay. These sediments are primarily the result of erosion throughout the Bay’s entire watershed, including areas of New York and Pennsylvania. Flowing water naturally breaks down rock and soil, a process accelerated by heavy rains and manmade factors. The vast majority of the sediments come from the hundreds of small and large streams and rivers that flow into the Chesapeake. The constant movement of currents and tides and the effects of wind and rain contribute to this accumulation. On average, the port must remove four to five million cubic yards of material each year from berths, anchorages, and sections of the more than 125 miles of channels that serve Baltimore’s international shipping industry.
