NATCHEZ — On Wednesday, one of the docks at the Natchez-Adams County Port was buzzing with activity — over on the other dock, all was quiet.

The second dock, while it’s being used for a construction project, is missing one critical piece of equipment.

The second dock, the T-dock, is missing a crane that the port’s executive director said would bolster the port’s business and simultaneously help another business near the port.

In 2007, the port began the application process to get grants that would fund the crane’s purchase.

In 2008, the port was awarded the grant money — but it just wasn’t enough.

Port Director Anthony Hauer said only two parties bid to build the crane, and neither of those bids matched the amount of funding allocated in the grants to get the crane built.

“Right now it all depends on the grant,” Hauer said.

Original cost estimates for the crane gave it a price tag of approximately $1.5 or $1.6 million.

However, since that time the cost of steel has spiked and subsequently caused the price of other materials that would be used in the crane’s construction to jump, Hauer said.

When the supervisors received the bids for the crane, the lowest bid was $1.9 million.

And while the difference between the bids and the original projected cost of the crane is in the $400,000 range, the Adams County Board of Supervisors recently voted to apply for $700,000 more in grants from the Mississippi Development Authority.

Hauer said additional costs associated with the project can drive up the cost of the project and account for the shortfall in funding and the amount to be applied for.

Director of the Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District Wirt Peterson will be applying to the MDA for a Community Development Block Grant on behalf of the county and could not be reached for comment.

Supervisor Darryl Grennell said engineering costs can also account for the difference in funding requested.

Last week board President Henry Watts said he was waiting on the final application paperwork from Peterson to sign and formally begin the application process.

However, Watts could not be reached for comment and it’s not known if the necessary paperwork has been signed.

And Hauer said until the county hears from MDA about the grant, not much can be done with the dock.

“We’re waiting on them,” he said.

Once completed the crane will be used to load and unload freight and will be used by Dynasteel.

Dynasteel is located near the T-dock and has expressed a desire to use the crane, once installed, to transport their large-scale ductwork.

Hauer said Dynasteel, like the port, is just waiting on the MDA.

Dynasteel is a metal fabrication company.