OSWEGO – A historic $600,00 signing agreement between the United States Army Corp of Engineers and the Port of Oswego Authority took place on Tuesday, September 13 at the POA east dock; a significant gesture in moving forward with plans to deepen the Oswego Harbor for improved port commerce.
Present at Tuesday’s event was USACE Buffalo District Commander Lt. Col. Colby Krug, POA Board Chair Francis Enwright, POA Executive Director Bill Scriber along with Port officials.
Krug, Scriber and Enright signed a poster signifying their partnership and the launch of the first phase of the project.
The agreement solidifies the initial stage of a three-step plan beginning with a feasibility study, Scriber said, with a $300,000 award coming from New York state and a matching $300,000 contribution from the USACE.
Deepening of the Oswego Harbor is significant for the increase of commerce, trade and commercial investment throughout the region as well as the monetary impact it will have locally, nationally and worldwide.
Scriber says the initial phase of the study will take anywhere from one to two years depending on various factors; also saying the long term budget is still undetermined.
“It’s too soon to predict, as the study has to be performed first – then there is an engineering study that will determine the budget,” Scriber said.
Scriber is enthusiastic about the future of waterway travel on Lake Ontario and what the long term benefits mean for the Port, Oswego County and commercial businesses.
“By deepening the harbor, we’ll be able to accommodate Seawaymax Class freighters. These vessels are the maximum size that can fit through the canal locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway, linking the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. Improving the harbor depth will open us up to larger vessels, and we’ll increase business for both the Port and other commercial business neighbors, such as Anderson Grain,” Scriber said.
“As I’ve often said, ports equal jobs – and a port is not just the jobs on the ports; It’s the jobs we support and the added industry that we bring in an area. Water is cheaper than both rail and truck. The economies of scale make ship transport more attractive to business and importantly NEW business. A port does more than just support present business, but make the area attractive for new business. When you look at the Great Lakes – a healthy port makes a healthy community. The bottom line is when a port’s commercial business grows, so do the jobs for the community. In addition, it now makes one of the port’s plans of bringing a cruise line to Oswego a real possibility.”
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