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Ellis Island News

31 Aug 2023

Statue City Cruises Awarded New Operating Contract

Š fototehnik / Adobe Stock

Statue City Cruises announced it has been awarded a new 10-year contract from the National Park Service to continue as the authorized provider of ferry service to the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.Statue City Cruises, part of the Hornblower Group's City Experiences portfolio, has operated the service for more than 15 years. The new contract begins March 1, 2024.Visitation on board Statue City Cruises is currently at 87% of pre-pandemic levels with several days so far this year exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

23 Dec 2022

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Warns on Weaker-than-expected Q4

(File photo: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation)

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation this week warned its fourth quarter 2022 revenues and gross profit margins are expected to be lower than previously anticipated.The company said in a press release that its Q4 results were impacted by the earlier than expected retirement of the Terrapin Island hopper dredge, significant weather delays on several projects in the northeast and some project production issues.In addition, unexpected drydocking scope increases resulted in additional costs and delays for the hopper dredges Ellis Island and Padre Island, Great Lakes said.

08 Jun 2022

Great Lakes Exercises Option to Build Second Hopper Dredge

(Image: C-Job Naval Architects)

The United States' largest dredging contractor, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, announced Tuesday that it has exercised its option to build a second 6,500-cubic-yard-capacity trailing suction hopper dredge (TSHD) at Conrad Shipyard in Amelia, La.Expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2025, the new vessel will be a sister ship to the Galveston Island, presently under construction with delivery in early 2023.This newbuild is identical to the Galveston Island and will feature two 800mm suction pipes and will be able to dredge at depths of up to 100 feet…

28 Oct 2021

Dredging Contractors of America Honors Sen. Shelby

U.S. Senator Richard Shelby accepts the DCA Lifetime Achievement Award

Trade association Dredging Contractors of America (DCA) honored U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) with its Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his leadership in support of critical maritime infrastructure investments.The award particularly notes his advocacy of the Mobile Harbor expansion, as it is formed from a cutting tooth used on the dredging vessel Ellis Island during the project.“DCA and its member companies greatly appreciate Senator Shelby for his decades of leadership in Congress on behalf of the maritime and dredging industry and the Americans whose jobs it supports…

28 Jun 2021

New Workboat to Serve Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty

A new utility/passenger vessel has been delivered and will soon go to work for the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) to serve Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.The all-steel newbuild, designed by New Orleans-based TAI Engineers, LLC, has been named Annie Moore after the first immigrant, a 15-year-old Irish girl, who signed the Ellis Island register."TAI has designed and built many boats and ships, but this project is particularly special to me," said Anil Raj, President of TAI. "My very first arrival to the United States was via New York in 1969.

18 Jan 2021

Bigger, Stronger: The U.S. Dredging Fleet is Growing

Callan Marine’s new CSD General Bradley is being built by Hagler Systems at the Halimar Shipyard in Morgan City, La. (Photo: Callan Marine)

The U.S. dredging fleet is growing. Presently on order and under construction is a raft of in-demand equipment that will help to keep America’s ports and waterways open, safeguard coastal communities and maintain the vital flow of maritime commerce to, from and through the U.S.In August, Eastern Shipbuilding Group cut first steel for a new trailing suction hopper dredge (TSHD) it is building for Weeks Marine, and the keel was laid the following month at the builder’s Allanton Shipyard in Panama City, Fla. The new 6,540 cubic meter capacity dredge R.B.

14 Sep 2020

Interview: Lasse Petterson, CEO and President, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock

Lasse Petterson onboard GLDDs Dredge Texas. Photo: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock

The dredging market in the U.S. is strong and growing, a bright spot for U.S. shipyards, with increased funding for critical infrastructure projects and port dredging at the federal and state levels. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, the country’s largest dredging company, has invested mightily in new dredgers at U.S. yards. Lasse Petterson, CEO and President, shares insights on the strategy ahead.You have sat at the helm of Great Lakes Dredge and Dock for just over three years. What…

10 Jun 2020

Conrad to Build TSHD for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock

An artist's impression og the new TSHD for GLDD (Image: C-Job Naval Architects)

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation signed a contract with Conrad Shipyard for the construction of a new 6,500-cubic-yard-capacity trailing suction hopper dredge (TSHD) for scheduled delivery in the first quarter of 2023.The deal includes an option to build an additional dredge, the U.S.' largest dredging services provider said on Tuesday.Conrad will perform the detail design and construct the dredges at its Amelia, La. location based on a regulatory-level design provided by…

03 Mar 2020

BHGI Scores USACE Contract

Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (BHGI) was recently awarded an Indefinite Delivery Contract (IDC) for naval architecture and marine engineering services for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Philadelphia District, Marine Design Center. This contract continues BHGI’s partnership with the Marine Design Center (MDC). Some of the projects BHGI has worked on for the USACE include, but are not limited to, retrofits, finite element analyses, electric load analyses, vibration analyses and computational fluid dynamics analyses as well as barge, towboat and dredge design.In partnership with MDC since 2010, BHGI and the MDC team worked on a wide variety of projects both for the USACE and other federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and NASA.

25 Feb 2020

Marine News' 2020 ATB Report

(Photo: Vane Bros.)

There’s a barge full of reasons why many operators turn to ATBs.A  mainstay of the U.S. coastwise dirty and refined products trades, articulated tug barges (ATB) have increasingly filled a void left as the fleet of Jones Act tankers (with crew complement requirements exceeding that of tugs) has aged out. With the cargo capacity of the larger ATBs – some with barges exceeding 300,000 barrels capacity – rivalling that of workhorse tankers that had served oil consuming regions, the concept certainly makes sense from a supply and distribution perspective.With 50…

27 Nov 2019

DOMESTIC DREDGING: U.S. Ports Require a Diverse Fleet

Image: CREDIT Cashman Dredging

The reasons for that are many and these realities cater to regulatory, commercial and regional needs.The U.S. dredging market is complex and relies on the diverse fleet of private dredging companies to get the job done. In addition to design and technical capabilities, environmental restrictions and regulations often dictate whether a trailing suction hopper dredge, cutter suction dredge, or mechanical dredge can respond to the coastal protection, wetland restoration, port deepening, and channel maintenance needs of the Nation.

10 Dec 2018

GREAT WORKBOATS: The Very Best 10 of 2018

MarineNews showcases the ten best of North America’s 2018 workboat deliveries. Domestic shipyard production is robust, innovative and getting greener. And, that translates into two kinds of ‘green.’As the domestic offshore energy support sector slowly awakens, other sectors have been happy to take the spotlight in its absence. As always, and if a hull was delivered in 2018, we took a look at it, with several areas as a focus for inclusion into this edition. For my part, I’m always excited when the U.S. boatbuilding sector can deliver for a foreign buyer. We’ve checked that box here. And, that’s because we can compete on price, quality and when we do…

02 Jul 2018

DCA's Doyle: President Trump Supports Strong Infrastructure Projects

In an address to Western Dredging Association (WEDA) stakeholders, William P. Doyle, CEO & Executive Director Dredging Contractors of America told his audience: It all starts with dredging. Good Morning, and thank you for inviting me here today to open-up the conference. This is my first time addressing the Western Dredging Association (WEDA), and I am honored to be here. It all starts with dredging, and President Donald J. Trump is backing it up with critical legislative measures. As I will address later in my remarks– the U.S. dredging companies are truly American companies, spending billions of dollars building all of our ships in American shipyards and staffing our ships with American officers a crew.

20 Feb 2018

Marine News Boat of the Month: February 2018

In late November 2017, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD), the largest provider of dredging services in the United States and a major provider of environmental and infrastructure services, took delivery of the new build ATB hopper dredge Ellis Island and tug Douglas B. Mackie after successful completion of United States Coast Guard and ABS regulatory sea trials. Representing a substantial reinvestment in the GLDD (and U.S. flag dredging) fleet, Ellis Island significantly…

12 Feb 2018

Interview: Terry MacRae - CEO, HMS Global Maritime

Terry MacRae, President & Chief Executive Officer, HMS Global Maritime

Terry MacRae founded Hornblower Yachts, LLC (doing business as Hornblower Cruises & Events) in 1980, and serves as Chief Executive Officer, the President and is also its owner. MacRae is the Co-founder of HMS Global Maritime and the American Queen Steamboat Company, and serves as Chief Executive Officer of Alcatraz Cruises, LLC, Statue Cruises, LLC, Hornblower Canada Co., Hornblower Cable Cars, Inc. and HNY Ferry, LLC (doing business as NYC Ferry). He leads one of the largest and fastest growing charter, dining cruise, and ferry operating companies in the nation.

18 Jan 2018

US Dredging Invests in American Workers, Safe Navigation Channels

MAGDALEN (Photo courtesy of  AMP)

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), the voice of the domestic maritime industry, has highlighted the U.S. dredging industry’s commitment to build and maintain safe, efficient and cost-effective navigation channels in the nation’s inland waterways and ports. The recent deliveries of four state-of-the-art vessels, constructed by nearly 700 American workers in U.S. shipyards, are a reflection of the U.S. dredging industry’s continued investment in building dredges with increased…

05 Dec 2017

Ferry Operations: A Tragedy Averted

Training and attention to detail saves lives. Kevin Suarez at Statue Cruises is the living embodiment of that maritime metric. For any first time visitor to the Big Apple, the trip probably wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. To that end, Statue Cruises’ main focus is to create a smooth passenger experience and serve as the gateway to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island for the over 4.4 million tourists who visit both islands annually. Collectively, they run eight vessels that service the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island routes and two smaller vessels with the Liberty Landing Ferry, which Statue Cruises operates, that runs between Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ and the World Financial Center, in lower Manhattan.

09 Mar 2017

Louisiana Dredging Outlook

Photo: Magnolia Dredge

When maritime stakeholders think about dredging, they typically first conjure up visions of harbor deepening projects to accommodate those giant, post-Panamax boxships. Conversely, inland players hope for maintenance dredging in the heartland to keep the nation’s 31,000 cargo barges afloat as they head for the coast. But, there is much more to it than that. In Louisiana, dredging, of course, keeps Louisiana's waterways open for navigation, provides material for coastal restoration and helps industrial plants with drainage. The biggest projects are sponsored by the U.S.

10 May 2015

Ferguson Receives Ellis Island Medal of Honor

Adm. Mark Ferguson, commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples and commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF), received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor during a ceremony May 9, 2015 on Ellis Island. The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) presented the award to Ferguson during the 29th Annual Ellis Island Medal of Honor Ceremony. This annual award ceremony honors American citizens who exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives, while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage. “We owe so much to this great country," stated Adm. Mark Ferguson, commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples and commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF).

21 Jun 2017

Dredging: Digging Deep for a 'WIIN'

Š Nancy Hochmuth / Adobe Stock

In the waning days of 2016, the outlook brightened dramatically for the big U.S. dredging contractors. Just before Congress dispersed for the Holidays, then-President Obama signed a pivotal piece of legislation – the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, S612. Authorized needed investment in America’s ports, channels, locks, dams, and other infrastructure that supports the maritime and waterways transportation system and provides flood protection. Authorized U.S.

06 Oct 2017

Great Lakes CEO Provides Business Update

Tug Douglas B. Mackie started sea trials on October 5th.  (Photo: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp)

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, a provider of dredging services in the United States and a major provider of environmental and infrastructure services, has announced multiple updates. Chief Executive Officer, Lasse Petterson, commented, “During the two months since we reported second quarter earnings, a number of developments have occurred at the Company. “As noted on the quarterly earnings call on August 2, we are executing a deep dive into our operational and financial performance. We have performed extensive analysis regarding our portfolio composition and asset utilization.

28 Nov 2017

US' Largest Hopper Dredger Delivered

Ellis Island (Photo: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation)

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation has taken delivery of the newly built ATB hopper dredge Ellis Island and tug Douglas B. Mackie following completion of U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) regulatory sea trials. The Jones Act dual mode articulated tug/barge (ATB) trailing suction hopper dredge was built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. David Simonelli, President of Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation's dredging division, said, “This advanced vessel which improves the competitiveness of our hopper group and represents a substantial reinvestment in our fleet.

04 Oct 2016

Great Lakes Launch Hopper Dredge Ellis Island

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation announced today the successful launch of the Ellis Island, the barge component of its Articulated Tug & Barge (ATB) hopper dredge currently under construction. The launch occurred on September 30, 2016 at Eastern Shipbuilding’s shipyard in Allanton, Florida. After two years of construction and hundreds of thousands of man hours, the launch marks a significant milestone in the construction progress of the vessel. CEO Jonathan Berger commented, “This ATB hopper dredge is a state-of-the-art “Jones Act” vessel designed and constructed to meet the nation’s growing maritime infrastructure needs. This vessel will help to contribute to the U.S.