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Dredging News

12 Feb 2025

Only One Bid, DEME, for Argentina River Dredge Contract

Copyright Björn Wylezich/AdobeStock

Belgian company DEME Group was the sole firm to bid in the Argentine government's tender for a major maintenance contract for the Parana waterway, a key route for grains transport, the government said on Wednesday.The bid could mark a major shakeup in dredging the river, part of a route from inland areas of Paraguay, Bolivia and southern Brazil out to sea. Argentina ships out some 80% of its massive farm exports along the waterway.Belgian rival Jan de Nul currently holds the concession to maintain the river and has for decades…

27 Jan 2025

Van Oord Tests Electric Crane Vessel

Source: Van Oord

Van Oord, in cooperation with ZEDHub, Smart Delta Drechtsteden, the Municipality of Dordrecht and Port of Rotterdam, has demonstrated the operation of the fully electric crane vessel Christiaan P, a first for the dredging industry.Christiaan P. is a crane vessel owned by Paans Van Oord which was retrofitted to remove its engines and replace them with electric motors. The crane was also replaced by an electric one. The vessel is used for various kinds of marine engineering work…

27 Jan 2025

Port Houston Breaks Volume Record in 2024

Image courtesy Port Houston

Port Houston achieved a historic milestone in 2024, handling a record-breaking 53.07 million tons of cargo, a 6% increase over 2023 at its public terminals. Container volume also surged by 8%, reinforcing the port's critical role in facilitating trade and driving economic growth for Houston, the surrounding region, and the nation."Houston is at the heart of our nation’s trade, connecting our region to global markets," said Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston. "This record tonnage achievement reflects the dedication of our team and our strong partnerships with labor and key stakeholders.

10 Jan 2025

A Deep Dive into Dredging with DCA’s Doyle

DB Avalon, Curtin Maritime, Houston Ship Channel 2024 (c) Curtin Maritime

There’s more to domestic dredging than meets the eye. Dredging Contractors of America CEO Bill Doyle is just the guy tell you why.William P. Doyle serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Dredging Contractors of America (DCA). DCA represents the dredging industry on key issues before Congress and is an active partner to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, public port authorities, state and local governments, as well as allied construction and maritime organizations.Immediately prior to this appointment, Mr. Doyle served as the Port of Baltimore’s Chief Executive for three years.

18 Dec 2024

Damen-Built Shoalbuster Joins Caspian Offshore’s Fleet

Caspian Lotus vessel (Credit: Damen)

Damen Shipyards Group has delivered a Shoalbuster (SBu) 3209 to Caspian Offshore Construction, which will be put to work in support of dredging projects in the Persian Gulf.The vessel, named Caspian Lotus, joins the company’s fleet of over 50 vessels and barges.It features shallow draught of just 3.3 metres, 80 m2 of deck space, ample crane capacity and powerful propulsion.Caspian Offshore Construction is a long-term client of Damen. The company took delivery of its first Damen vessel – a Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 1605 back in 2006.Since…

18 Dec 2024

DP World Starts Construction of New $1.2B Port in Senegal

(Credit: DP World)

The arrival of the dredger Willem Van Rubroeck in Ndayane has marked the start of maritime works for the $1.2 billion Port of Ndayane, a project led by Dubai-owned ports and logistics firm DP World, which aims to transform Senegal into a major center for global trade.The vessel will dredge a 5 km-long shipping channel - an essential step in building this high-capacity port designed to elevate Senegal’s trade infrastructure.Phase 1 of the project includes an 840 m quay and a 5…

11 Nov 2024

Van Oord Completes Dredging Project in Egypt

Source: Van Oord

Van Oord has finished dredging two new port basins in Ain Sokhna Port, successfully completing a project that forms part of a port expansion program meant to improve and develop the Suez Canal Economic Zone and harness the potential of the Suez Canal as a global hub for maritime transport.The General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone and the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Egypt awarded Van Oord the contract to dredge approximately 21 million cubic meters of soil to create two new port basins.

11 Nov 2024

Noise from Agitation Dredging Safe for Marine Mammals and Fish

Source: Haven Dredging

In the first study conducted into agitation dredging noise in harbors, Haven Dredging’s Tiamat Hydrodynamic dredger has been confirmed to be below the safe levels for marine mammals and fish.Tiamat, launched last year, is a hydrodynamic dredging solution that the study by environmental hydraulics consultancy, HR Wallingford, was found to be significantly quieter than a small trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD).When being pulled by a small workboat, the noise level of Tiamat was around 170 decibels (dB)…

25 Oct 2024

Naming Ceremony Held for Great Lakes' New Hopper Dredge Galveston Island

(Photo: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company)

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company on Friday held a naming ceremony for its new hopper dredge, Galveston Island.The newbuild is the first of two new 6,500-cubic-yard-capacity trailing suction hopper dredges (TSHD) being built by Conrad Shipyard for the United States' largest dredging contactor.The dredge is equipped with a direct high-power pump-ashore installation, dredging system automation, dynamic positioning and tracking, U.S. EPA Tier 4 compliant engines, and have capabilities of running on biofuel to minimize the environmental impact.

18 Oct 2024

DSC Dredge Promotes McMahon to VP of Product Support

Stephen McMahon (Photo; DSC Dredge)

Reserve, La. based DSC Dredge announced it has promoted Stephen McMahon to vice president of product support. He succeeds John “Sonny” Lightsey, who dedicated over 29 years to DSC.McMahon's journey at DSC began in 2011 in the hydraulic and mechanic shop, working under Troy Redwine and Carl Ulrich. His hands-on experience in the field and passion for problem-solving quickly propelled him through the ranks. Early in his career, he was sent to assist with the assembly of a dredge in Nebraska, where he came to the realization of his love for travel and fieldwork.

16 Oct 2024

Curtin Maritime Awarded Baltimore Dredging Contract

(File photo: Curtin Maritime)

Long Beach, Calif. based dredging and marine services contractor Curtin Maritime Corp. has been awarded a contract worth more than $33 million to perform dredging work in Baltimore, Md. The $33,493,525 firm-fixed-price contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District and is for Baltimore Harbor and channels maintenance dredging.Curtin Maritime was one of three bidders for the project, which is estimated to be completed by March 31, 2025.

01 Oct 2024

Great Lakes Bags $342.3 Million in New Dredging Contracts

© Alexey Seafarer / Adobe Stock

Dredging contractor Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation announced it has received several dredging awards totaling $342.3 million.The awarded work includes:Sabine-Neches Waterway Channel Improvement, Contract 6 Project (Capital, Texas, $219.1 million)The Sabine-Neches Waterway Channel Improvement, Contract Project 6 involves the deepening of the channel to accommodate larger vessels, reduce transportation costs, enhance channel efficiency and improve safety for local port stakeholders. This project has approximately $16 million of options pending. The client on this project is the U.S.

20 Sep 2024

Damen Starts Building Support Vessels to Fill Rising Demand in Gulf Region

(Credit: Damen)

Damen Shipyards has started construction of three shallow draft multi-purpose support vessels at its shipyard in the United Arab Emirates, in anticipation of an increase in offshore and dredging activity in Arabian Gulf region.The initial program will be comprised of a 27-metre Multi Cat 2712 for delivery in November 2025, a 33-metre Multi Cat 3313 SD (shallow draft) for delivery in December 2025, and a 27-metre Shoalbuster 2711 for delivery in February 2026.All three types are…

18 Sep 2024

Alabama Shipyard to Repair USACE's Largest Hopper Dredge Wheeler

USACE hopper dredge Wheeler (File photo:  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Mobile, Ala. ship repair yard  Alabama Shipyard has been awarded a contract to repair the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) largest trailing suction hopper dredge, Wheeler.Alabama Shipyard was one of three bidders for the contract, winning the drydock and repair deal with its $11,466,912 bid. The contract was awarded by the Corps' New Orleans District, which owns and operates the dredge to keep waterway channels clear from Key West, Fla., to Brownsville, Texas.The repair work…

03 Sep 2024

Fierce Competition Drives Down the Cost of US Dredging Projects

(Photo: Dredging Contractors of America)

Heavy competition within the U.S. dredging sector helps to save American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year, as highlighted by a recent industry report.According to the "U.S. Dredging Report: An Analysis of the FY23 U.S. Federal Dredging Market", compiled by dredging industry insider Michael Gerhardt, highly competitive U.S. dredging companies saved taxpayers $707 million for contracts awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in FY 2023 alone.The USACE awards a diverse array of dredging projects…

26 Aug 2024

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Reports $256.2 Million in New Contracts

(File photo: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation)

Houston-based dredging contractor Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, on Monday announced the receipt of several dredging awards totaling $256.2 million.The awarded work includes:Mobile Harbor, Alabama Deepening and Widening – Phase 2A Dredging Project (Capital, Alabama, $65.9 million)The Mobile Harbor, Alabama Deepening and Widening Dredging Project 2A, involves deepening the channel by six feet to improve channel navigation to allow deeper draft vessels use of the port and to reuse material for beneficial use in the Sand Island Beneficial Use Area. The client on this project is the U.S.

22 Aug 2024

Royal Van der Leun to Equip USACE's New Hopper Dredge

(Image: Eastern Shipbuilding Group)

Royal Van der Leun, based in the Netherlands, announced it will supply equipment for a new hopper dredge being built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City, Fla., for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).Scheduled for delivery in 2027, the 320-foot vessel, with a hopper capacity of 6,000 cubic yards will join the USACE’s Ready Reserve Fleet, replacing the USACE Philadelphia District's high-powered deep draft hopper dredge McFarland, built in 1967.For the design, Eastern worked with longtime partner Royal IHC, headquartered in the Netherlands.

22 Aug 2024

Dredging: $47 Million Lined up for Beneficial Use in Port of Mobile

© Cavan / Adobe Stock

Three major projects related to long-term dredge material management at the Port of Mobile are moving forward in Congress.In partnership with the Alabama Port Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has been working over the last year to secure additional beneficial use opportunities related to the Port of Mobile’s ship channel deepening and widening project and ongoing ship channel maintenance.These projects include an additional $47 million for USACE operations and maintenance of the Mobile Ship Channel…

19 Aug 2024

Donjon Marine Tapped for Maintenance Dredging in Newark, NJ

© Edwin Cabaron / Adobe Stock

Hillside, N.J.-based dredging and marine services contractor Donjon Marine has been awarded a contract to perform maintenance dredging in Newark, N.J.The $32,334,174 firm-fixed-price contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District. Donjon was one of two bidders for the project.Work is expected to wrap up by October 23, 2024.

14 Aug 2024

Callan Marine Awarded $104 Million Texas Dredging Project

(File phto: U.S. Army)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG) on Monday awarded a $104 million contract to Galveston-based dredging contractor Callan Marine for the deepening of the Brazos Island Harbor (BIH) Ship Channel in South Texas.In partnership with the Port of Brownsville, USACE will deepen a 13-mile stretch of the ship channel by 10 feet, bringing the authorized depth to 52 feet. This phase of the project is referred to as BIH Segment B.Callan Marine will remove approximately 7 million cubic yards of material using a pipeline dredge…

12 Aug 2024

Yilport Planning $1.6 Billion Ports Expansion in El Salvador

©  StockMarketVisuals / Adobe Stock

Turkish holding company Yilport will invest an expected $1.62 billion to expand two ports in El Salvador and operate them jointly with the local port authority, the government of the Central American country said.Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, in a post on X on Sunday evening, said the investment is part of his broader economic revitalization plan.Yilport, which also operates ports in Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru and in Europe, is set to invest to triple capacity at Acajutla, El Salvador's biggest port.It will also invest to overhaul La Union, a port in the east of the country which has been c

06 Aug 2024

Michigan Awards $5 Million for Maritime Infrastructure Projects

(File photo: Port of Monroe)

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has revealed the winners of the 2024 Michigan Maritime and Port Facility Assistance Grant Program, which will allocate $5 million to maritime projects throughout the state.The five chosen projects aim to enhance Michigan's maritime infrastructure, bolstering the state's economic edge, lowering freight transportation costs, increasing reliability and lessening the environmental effects of freight movement, MDOT said.MDOT's Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget included a one-time appropriation of $5 million for the program…

01 Aug 2024

Senate Confirms Graham as Next USACE Chief

Major General William H. “Butch” Graham Jr. (Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Major General William H. “Butch” Graham Jr. as the 56th chief of engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Graham is currently serving as the deputy chief of engineers and deputy commanding general for civil works and emergency operations. His long Army career includes leadership positions supporting both civil works and military construction.He will succeed Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, whose four-year term as chief ends on September 13.“MG(P) Graham has both a depth and breadth of experience across the Regiment and the Army.

The orderbook for U.S. dredgers is about $3B, and according to DCA CEO Bill Doyle, the incoming political administration could help this niche maritime sector continue its bull run.
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