National Dredging Needs Study

PMCL served as the prime contractor for the National Dredging Needs Study (NDNS). The Dredging Needs Study of Ports and Harbors was authorized by Section 402 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1992. The Act authorized the conduct of studies necessary to provide a report to Congress, which assesses the dredging needs of U.S. ports and harbors.

The NDNS is comprised of the following elements, which supports and embodies the assessment of dredging needs:

• Historical Economic Perspective on Port Development examined the history of U.S. ports and tracked changes in the North American port system, including market forces, political changes, physical geography, and technological advances in ships, dredging, and cargo handling.
• Comprehensive Dredging Needs Database was utilized to develop a commodity and fleet forecast. The commodity/cargo flow analysis examined the share of trade and make-up of commodities at major U.S. port ranges. The fleet forecast was based on a statistical analysis of vessel characteristics, vessel types, and key vessel design and operating indicators, and produced a forecast of future vessel calls by size, type, and port.
• World Port Comparison Report was an update of trade patterns, trade partners, commodities, and vessel type of key U.S. and foreign ports, and planned port improvements within the next ten years. The assessment of existing and planned world port infrastructure and channel depths provides an indication of type and size vessels calling those ports and potential accessibility issues of those vessels calling U.S. ports.
• Importance of the U.S. Port System involved the development of graphical displays of the relationships among foreign and domestic trade, imports and exports, and cargo tonnage versus cargo value.