Every safe arrival and departure from the numerous harbors in Puerto Rico is made possible by a team of professionals working quietly but relentlessly to ensure Federal navigation channels are open, secure, and ready for whatever comes next. To ensure the continued safety of these harbors, in July 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Caribbean District Operations Branch – in partnership with the Charleston District – carried out hydrographic surveys at the Harbors of Ponce, Mayagüez, and Arecibo. These surveys were not just routine; they were a vital part of the Corps’ mission to maintain safe navigation and interstate commerce across the region.
The operation was led by a skilled and collaborative team. From the Charleston District, Chief of Survey Matthew Foss, along with surveyors Matthew Boles and Derek Thorn, and boat operator Charles Murden, brought their expertise to the waters of Puerto Rico. They worked closely with Caribbean District surveyor Juan Marrero and Operations Program Manager Jose Santiago, whose leadership and insight helped guide the mission to success.
Santiago said this effort is more than just data collection. “It’s about planning ahead, protecting our shores, and keeping our region moving forward,” he said. “The surveys provided critical data on the condition of federal navigation channels, which are essential for economic activity, tourism, regional connectivity, and emergency response.”
By understanding the current state of these channels, the Corps can ensure maritime safety, anticipate future maintenance or construction needs, and respond swiftly in the event of natural disasters. These ports are more than infrastructure for the island of Puerto Rico. They are lifelines for commerce and community, facilitating the movement of goods, supporting tourism, and serving as gateways for both local exports and essential imports.
This channel and harbor mission in Puerto Rico reflects the Corps’ larger national commitment to maintaining
navigable waterways. It’s a responsibility the Corps of Engineers has upheld since 1824, when Congress first tasked the Army with improving river navigation. Today, across the United States, the Corps oversees more than 12,000 miles of inland waterways, 300 commercial harbors, and hundreds of smaller ports and locks. In Puerto Rico, that legacy continues through key projects like the San Juan Harbor Deepening and Widening, completed in 2024, which enhanced the port’s capacity to accommodate larger vessels and improve operational efficiency.
Whether in the Caribbean or on the mainland, the Corps’ navigation mission continues to be a cornerstone of national infrastructure and national defense, ensuring that our ports remain safe, resilient, and ready to support the flow of goods, people, and opportunity.