The Ocean City Inlet will receive emergency dredging this month, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) just announced. It’s being addressed now because of increased boating traffic during the busy summer season. Water depths need to be safe and accessible for the Coast Guard to respond to emergencies, both during regular boat traffic and during the White Marlin Open, to be held Aug. 4-8. As of this week, 112 boats are registered for the tournament.
This week surveys are being done to prioritize which areas need dredging most, USACE spokesperson Nicole Strong tells Chesapeake Bay Magazine. The Corps of Engineers is authorized to dredge to a depth up to 10 feet.
According to Strong, dredging at the inlet typically takes place 2-4 times a year. The emergency request was approved for the USACE Baltimore District to use Wilmington District’s vessel Merritt to remove about 7,500 cubic yards of dredged material. (The dredges usually used in the inlet, Currituck and Murden, are undergoing annual maintenance right now.)
Boaters will see the Merritt arrive in Ocean City the third week of July, with dredging taking place beginning July 15. The area crews are targeting is the “priority area along the northern half of the channel near the harbor.” The operations will take about eight to ten days.
The Merritt can dredge areas as shallow as 5.5 feet, side casting material 85 feet from the vessel to clear a channel.
“We’ve heard the concerns from mariners and local officials and understand how critical this waterway is to both safety and economic security for the region,” said Baltimore District Commander Col. Francis Pera. “Dredging in the Ocean City inlet is extremely important work and we’ve taken the necessary additional steps to ensure the waterway remains navigable.”
