BRUNSWICK, Ga. () — The Port of Brunswick will receive $35 million in additional funding for operations and maintenance, officials said Thursday.

The Brunswick Port was named the nation’s top port for automobiles and heavy equipment, in early February this year.

Officials announced during the State of the Port that the port handled more than two million tons of roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) cargo.

“The Georgia Ports Authority is grateful that the Administration has prioritized the long-awaited funding necessary to properly maintain the Port of Brunswick,” President and CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority Griff Lynch said. “We are further grateful for the extraordinary advocacy of Chairman Carter, Chairman Collins, and the entire Georgia Congressional delegation on behalf of this important gateway. As the largest and busiest port in the United States for handling automobiles and machinery, the maintenance of Brunswick’s harbor is critical before vessel access to the port is limited.”

Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) released a statement with the announcement and said that they have worked with the Corps to “address unacceptable shortfalls in maintenance at the Port of Brunswick” on Thursday.

Georgia’s U.S. senators sought answers regarding the failure to dredge the port back in February.

Dredging is essential to growth in the harbor, officials said.

“To date, the federal funding and procurement process has fallen short for both the annual maintenance dredging and the harbor modification project,” The Port’s press release said.” It is imperative the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers identifies a workable solution for these projects of national significance.”