The Port of Portland owns and operates the Dredge Oregon, a non-propelled cutter suction dredge used to maintain the Columbia River navigation channel to 43 feet.
A well-maintained channel allows larger ships to carry more cargo, supporting trade and jobs in the region.
For the past four months, the crew has been working on channel maintenance to ensure safe deep draft navigation of the Columbia River.
The river is the top export gateway on the West Coast for paper products, forest products, minerals and bulk exports and the largest wheat export gateway in the nation.
In all, the Columbia River accounts for 38 million tons of international exports.