Alternatives to deep-draft port dredging for US coal export development: a preliminary assessment. [72 references]

Technical Report · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5013692

Bertram, K M

This report compares deep-draft port dredging with alternative methods for increasing US coal export capacity. Five basic types of alternatives to port dredging are discussed: (1) coarse-coal pipelines, (2) coal slurry pipelines, (3) vessel-to-ship loading, (4) barge-carrying ships, and (5) extra-wide-beam coal ships. Because more than one approach is investigated for these alternatives, a total of 12 options are discussed. After describing the factors exerting growing pressure on the United States to improve its seaport coal-exporting capabilities, the current status of port dredging is presented. Funding, approval process, implementation time, and physical capability considerations are analyzed; significant uncertainties are found to exist about the financial and time requirements for port dredging. The 12 alternatives to port dredging are next described and compared on the basis of (1) financial considerations, (2) implementation-time requirements, and (3) environmental and technological constraints. At least two-thirds of the approximately 180 million tons of planned expansion by the year 2000 of coal-export capacity is based on the assumption of port dredging taking place. Therefore, it appears that port dredging alone could enable US ports to handle the coal export volumes projected for the year 2000. Dredging is also concluded to improve port efficiency and reduce general transportation costs the most. However, the uncertainties about the financing, the environmental concerns, and the time requirements for deep-draft dredging throw considerable doubt upon its viability as a single means of needed port capacity expansion. It is concluded that all of the alternatives except the barge-carrying-vessel systems would be good supplementary systems.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5013692
• Report Number(s): ANL/EES-TM-183; ON: DE82021186
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
013000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DREDGING
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPORTS
FINANCING
FOSSIL FUELS
FREIGHT PIPELINES
FUELS
HARBORS
LEGISLATION
LOADING
MARITIME TRANSPORT
MATERIALS
MATERIALS HANDLING
MOORINGS
NORTH AMERICA
PIPELINES
RECOMMENDATIONS
SHIPS
SIZE
SLURRY PIPELINES
TERMINAL FACILITIES
TRANSPORT
USA