For dredging company executives, the recently passed $550 billion federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) sits like the proverbial Horn-o’-Plenty, ready to disgorge billions of federal dollars for maritime, port, harbor, coastal, inland waterways and flood projects, many of which will require dredging.
In 1875, the General Moultrie was the first suction dredge built in the United States and was used in the Charleston River — until it sank within a year. During the same era, the city of Houston and other port towns formed companies like the Buffalo Bayou Ship Channel Company to build special-purpose vessels to clear and connect waterways for commercial vessel traffic.
Conrad Shipyard held a steel cutting ceremony for for three new 7,100 cubic yard dump scow barges for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC (GLDD) at its shipyard in Morgan City, La.Dump scows are barges with a hopper type cargo carrying compartment and a split hull design to facilitate bottom dumps to discharge dredged material. Each of the three identical barges will measure 277’ by 63.
New England’s busiest port moves closer to welcoming larger containerships and growing the regional economy with the completion of the second phase of a three-part dredging program last month, nearly one year ahead of schedule.Cashman Dredging and JV partner The Dutra Group began Phase II of the U.S. Army Corps’ Boston Harbor Navigation Improvement Project in July of 2018.