28 January 2008 - Fort Lauderdale may expand superyacht access
A scheme to dredge a deep water access channel for superyachts on Fort Lauderdale’s New River is being considered by the city authorities. The plan would involve dredging a 6.2 miles (10km) stretch of the river from the current depth of 10 feet to 14 feet so allowing larger yachts to access the upriver boat yards and marinas. The city authorities have requested that the Florida Inland Navigation District, a Florida state agency which manages the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, carry out a feasibility study to ascertain how deep it is possible to dredge.

Andrew Cuba, Fort Lauderdale’s Manager of Marine facilities is reported as telling the Sun Sentinel newspaper that: "The goal is to maintain the thriving local marine industry. It would enable the businesses that are farther up the river to enhance and maintain their levels of service." There are about 20 related martime businesses further up the river that could benefit from the greater depth.

One of those is the Lauderdale Mariner Center which can currently handle yachts up to 130ft long and whose facilities include a 220 ton capacity travel-lift. The City Commission estimates that the highest possible cost of the dredging would be $15.7 million with the agency paying $11.8 million and the city the remainder.