1 Deep-Draft Coastal Navigation Entrance Channel Practice

Engineers (USACE) deep-draft coastal navigation entrance channel design practice and describes elements of a USACE research effort for improving this practice. NEEDS AND BENEFITS: Entrance channels are the initial points of entry to ports and harbors. Almost all of United States overseas trade by weight, and approximately 50 percent by value (air transport accounts for a greater fraction of precious cargo), moves through our Nation’s ports and harbors. The waterborne commerce through U.S. ports and harbors has increased continuously over the last four decades (U.S. Department of Transportation 1997; Webster 1992), and many ports are expanding to serve larger vessels. Economics of scale and increased containerization of cargo are producing containerships of increased size (U.S. Department of Transportation 1997), exceeding the dimensions of Panamax class ships (Panama Canal maximum ship dimensions are 965-ft length, 106-ft beam, and 39.5-ft draft). The economics of scale is applicable to all cargo classes and has fueled demand for port expansions, infrastructure capable of rapid on-and-off loading, larger stockyards, and efficient land-based facilities for truck and rail transport. With the ever-present political and economic pressures to serve larger vessels, ports are faced with planning for costly infrastructure upgrades