The National Transportation Safety Board has released its report into the January16, 2023 flooding and eventual capsizing of the Wood Resources LLC non-propelled dredge WB Wood during sand dredging operations near mile 85 on the Lower Mississippi River. An estimated 5,000 gallons of fuel were released and the 1983-built dredge was subsequently declared a $1.5 million total loss. Though there were no injuries, the vessel’s sole person on board as it started to capsize, the night leverman, had to be rescued by a good samaritan vessel after jumping into the river (more details on that in the full ..read more

Kerns smashes ceremonial champagne on the Vaneta Marie. On Friday, Muddy Water Dredging LP, based in Orange, Texas, held the christening ceremony of its new Marlin Class dredge, the Vaneta Marie, at the Port of New Orleans. The custom 24-inch dual pump Marlin Class dredge is one of the largest of its kind in the United States to maintain U.S. navigable waterways. The project was announced October 2021 by Michael Kerns, president and CEO of Muddy Water Dredging, and Bob Wetta, president and CEO of DSC Dredge. The new dredge is named after Kerns’ mother, Vaneta Marie Nelson. Built by Reserv ..read more

Dredging of the Cleveland Harbor federal navigation channel by the Buffalo Engineer District and its contractor, Michigan-based Ryba Marine Construction Co., will begin in May.   Dredging of harbors like Cleveland’s ensures accessible depths for large vessels, the continued flow of commodities across the Great Lakes, and the economic viability of United States waterways.  “Keeping our nation’s ports open for safe navigation is critically important to maintain the environment and economy of the United States,” said Lt. Col. Lyle Milliman, USACE Buffalo District commander. “The su ..read more

The American Waterways Operators has produced a new video highlighting the tugboat, towboat and barge industry’s commitment to safety and its strong record as the safest mode of freight transportation. The two-minute new AWO video, The Tugboat, Towboat and Barge Industry: Delivering Safety on America’s Waterways, explains that the industry, while moving nearly 700 million tons of cargo each year, prioritizes the safety of mariners, communities, and the environment – all while having the lowest injury and fatality rate among major modes of freight transportation. The new AWO video also highligh ..read more

At its most recent monthly meeting, the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority approved a $136 million contract award for segment 1C of the Houston Ship Channel Expansion – Project 11. Port Commission chairman Ric Campo noted that Callan Marine Ltd., the newly awarded segment 1C contractor, will use its recently christened 32-inch cutter suction dredge, the General Arnold, considered the newest, largest, and most environmentally friendly cutter suction dredge in the U.S. fleet, for the undertaking. The dredge features four EPA Tier 4 engines developing a combined 24,000 horsepower an ..read more

Joining Galveston, Texas, headquartered Callan Marine’s dredging fleet—which includes the General Bradley and MacArthur—is the newly christened 32-inch cutter suction dredge, the General Arnold. The new dredge was built at C&C Marine & Repair shipyard in Belle Chasse, La. The General Arnold was christened in Corpus Christi, Texas, on February 20, 2024, and will immediately begin work on Phase Four of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project. The project will beneficially re-use 100% of the dredged material removed from the channel deepening and widening. The General Arnold i ..read more

Houston-headquartered dredging giant Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (Nasdaq: GLDD) yesterday reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023. The numbers seemed to please investors, with the company’s share price up by 17.8% at the end of the trading day. HIGHLIGHTS Fourth quarter 2023 results Revenue was $181.7 million Total operating profit was $30.5 million Net income was $21.6 million (includes $5.6 million gain related to the termination of an offshore wind contract) Adjusted EBITDA was $40.8 million (includes $7.4 million gain related to the termin ..read more

The Damen Dredging Equipment shipyard in Nijkerk, Netherlands, has completed the first in its new CSD600 series of cutter suction dredges. It is now on its way to an Indonesian customer, PT Dua Samudera Perkasa as deck cargo on a heavy lift ship after being towed to Rotterdam through the Dutch polders from the shipyard, which is located in the heart of the Netherlands. The distinctive CSD600 is a brand-new type of dismountable dredge recently added to the Damen standard range of dredges. It has a cutter power of 250 kW and a maximum dredging depth of -16 meters. CSD600 under tow to Rotterdam I ..read more

Dredging contractor Weeks Marine Inc. has been awarded a $62,055,622 firm-fixed-price contract for harbor deepening and widening. Work will be performed in Irvington, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 30, 2025. Fiscal 2020 civil construction funds and fiscal 2023 civil operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $62,055,622 were obligated at the time of the award. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-24-C) The post Weeks Marine wins $62 million USACE contract appeared firs ..read more

The 31,000 cubic meter capacity “mega hopper” trailing suction hopper dredge (TSHD) ordered at Royal IHC by Royal Boskalis last year will be powered by three MAN 49/60 engines. This is the first marine application of MAN Energy Solutions’ most powerful diesel engine. The MAN 49/60 successfully passed its type approval test in March 2023 and features a high power-per-cylinder of 1,300 kW, reducing the number of installed cylinders necessary to meet customer power demands. While in this particular project six-cylinder engines are being applied, the L-type of the engine can accommodate up to 10 c ..read more