The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority announced that the Delaware River deepening project got a major boost on Wednesday, November 17 when a federal judge ruled against those trying to stop the project, rejecting their request for a permanent injunction and lifting the temporary injunction imposed earlier this year that threatened additional work.

Mr John H Estey chairman of Philadelphia Regional Port Authority said that "This is great news for the many families that rely on the Delaware River for their livelihood.”

The PRPA, which is the local sponsor of the project, had joined the suit in support of the deepening. The USD 277 million project will deepen the Delaware River main shipping channel from 40 feet to 45 feet from Philadelphia through the Delaware Bay, a distance of 102 miles. The project began in March, when an 11 mile stretch in Delaware waters was deepened. That work ended in September. Plans are underway for the next portion or reach, as they are called, to be deepened.

Mr Estey chairman said that "If we are going to ensure the future economic viability of our ports in the region, we need to deepen the Delaware channel to 45 feet. If we do not deepen, the ports along the Delaware are destined to become ‘niche' ports, with limited cargo-handling ability, costing thousands of good jobs. If we deepen the channel, we'll create thousands of jobs."

The ports of the Delaware River support an estimated 75,000 jobs, generate billions in revenue and wages and contribute more than USD 150 million annually in state and local taxes.

Mr James T McDermott Jr executive director of the PRPA said that "This is a great day not only for the men and women who work at the Port of Philadelphia, but for the regional economy, too. We have proven time and time again, this project is vital to the continuing growth of the local maritime industry. The more cargo we can bring here, the more jobs we can create."

(Sourced from Steelorbis.com)