Manson Christens New Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge

Manson Construction Co. recently christened the newest edition to its dredging fleet, a trailing suction hopper dredge dubbed Bayport, at the company's yard on the Duwamish river in Seattle. Bayport is a larger sister ship to Manson's current self-propelled hopper dredge Newport, with an overall size of 303 x 54 x 26-ft. and 5,000 cu. yard capacity. Construction of Bayport was a fast track project for the company. The dump barge hull was reconstructed to become this self-propelled, self-contained hopper dredge, and design work began only in November 1998. The barge, which had been working on a USACE project in San Francisco, was brought to Manson's Seattle yard in February 1999, and since that time was completely transformed under the guidance of Manson's Dave Gertsch and Dave Nielsen. After the christening, final construction details will be completed and the new hopper dredge will go to work on Manson's joint venture contract with the USACE on the Humboldt Harbor Deepening Project.