The Port of Newport Commission has agreed to invest $1.1 million toward the potential development of a federal channel into the Oregon seaport’s commercial marina, it was announced Oct. 30. The money is expected to be spent on geotechnical exploration and sediment sampling for a proposed channel, as well as plans for a new Port Dock 7 that could handle modern commercial vessels. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is studying the feasibility of a channel after the port asked the agency to explore the possibility. The agency began the study in 2020 and agreed to share the $950,000 cost…