Dredging News

Security is all too often treated as a purely compliance-driven exercise. This isn’t advisable in any industry, but it is particularly damaging for those that fall under critical infrastructure frameworks. Ports, and, by extension, the dredging operations that maintain and expand shipping lanes, are the backbone of global trade, underpinning essential supply lines. Security threats and workplace distributions therefore carry repercussions that extend far beyond any individual location, and facilitate a response that goes beyond passive monitoring and reactive measures.

Dawn Services has announced the acquisition of the M/V COASTAL DAWN (Ex M/VCANDACE), a Damen-designed Shoalbuster that strengthens the company’s fleet and expands its ability to serve customers across coastal, inland, and offshore markets.The addition of the M/V COASTAL DAWN represents a strategic investment in versatile marine assets designed to meet the increasing demand for marine construction and dredge support.With its shallow-draft hull, rugged construction, and strong towing performance…

In early April, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released its navigation work plan for FY2026. The overall plan outlines resources that will be used for dredging, structure maintenance, and other priorities at every port in the United States.The USACE Detroit District staff have since compiled a summary/funding analysis of Great Lakes provisions indicating that the Great Lakes region will receive $516.47 million in navigation maintenance funding in FY2026 — an increase…

Conrad Industries, Inc. announced its 2025 results and backlog.For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, Conrad had net income of $4.7 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.94 compared to net loss of $14,000 and earnings per diluted share of $0.00 during the fourth quarter of 2024. The Company reported net income of $19.9 million and income per diluted share of $3.96 for the twelve months ending December 31, 2025 compared to net income of $11.2 million and income per diluted share of $2.24 for the twelve months ending December 31, 2024.

The Dredging Contractors of America (DCA) is pleased to report another strong year for the U.S. dredging industry in Fiscal Year 2025, with $1.8 billion in federal dredging awards executed entirely by the American-owned, American-crewed, American-built Jones Act dredging fleet.According to Michael Gerhardt’s U.S. Dredging Report, FY2025 marked a transition year. While the prior year featured major deepening and widening projects in ports such as Norfolk, Brazos Island, Sabine, and Mobile, FY2025 saw fewer large-scale channel expansions.

America’s maritime infrastructure is measured in draft depth, vessel clearance, sediment management, and days available to dredge. If the United States is serious about competing in a century defined by supply chains, energy exports, and sealift readiness, then ports, harbors, and waterways must move from being in the background to becoming part of the national strategy.The Dredging industry and it importance to the U.S. Port infrastructure will be discussed in depth at the Port of the Future Conference and Exhibition, scheduled for March 23-25 in Houston.

Indigenous protesters have occupied Cargill's Santarem river port terminal in Brazil's Para state and "completely" interrupted operations at the site, the U.S. grain trader said in a statement on Saturday.The protesters forced Cargill employees to evacuate the private terminal on Friday evening, the firm said, adding that it is in contact with local authorities for an eviction to be carried out "in an orderly and safe manner."Cargill shipped more than 5.5 million metric tons of soybeans and corn through Santarem last year, according to port sector data.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation and Saltchuk Resources, Inc. announced a definitive agreement for Saltchuk to acquire Great Lakes at an aggregate equity value of approximately $1.2 billion and a total transaction value of $1.5 billion.Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of both companies, Saltchuk will commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of the Company for $17.00 per share in cash. The per share purchase price represents a 25% premium to Great Lakes’s 90-day volume-weighted average price as of February 10…

Seatrium delivered FREDERICK PAUP to Manson Construction Co. Built at Seatrium’s Brownsville Texas yard, the Jones Act-compliant vessel is the largest self-propelled hopper dredger in US history.Key highlights:Largest in the U.S. – 420’ length x 81’ beam, with a 15,000+ cubic yard hopper capacityPowerful and Agile – Self-propelled with 25,000 horsepower, triple azimuthing stern drives, and twin bow thrustersSustainable – Tier 4 Wabtec Diesel-Electric Engines and an advanced hull…

The Port of Virginia is nearing the completion of its $1.4 billion Gateway Investment Program with a critical piece of the strategic capital investment program being delivered in early 2026.In February, the port is scheduled to take delivery of the deepest shipping channels on the US East Coast, as the deepening and widening effort of Virginia’s channels comes to its close. The $450 million project will result in channels that are 55 feet deep and wide enough to safely handle two-way traffic of the biggest ships in the Atlantic trade…

For Major General Jason Kelly, Rebuilding and Maintaining the Nation’s Critical Waterway Infrastructure is personal.When Major General Jason Kelly reflects on his path to leading the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Civil Works mission, he doesn’t describe a straight line. He describes a journey, one that began “on the business end of the Army,” as he puts it, and evolved into a passion for solving complex problems that impact every American who depends on safe, reliable…

The United States dredging industry stands as one of the most competitive, efficient, and strategically vital sectors of the maritime economy. As part of the Jones Act fleet—the original Build America, Buy America industry — it not only strengthens our ports and waterways but also anchors thousands of middle-class jobs, spurs shipbuilding across the Gulf and East Coasts, and delivers exceptional value for taxpayers.The last several years have ushered in a quiet renaissance. Dredging firms large and small are modernizing their fleets, expanding capacity, and deepening critical U.S.

Damen Shipyards Group has announced the successful delivery of four advanced dredging component packages for Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers (TSHDs). These vessels, which are being constructed at different shipyards in Central America, where two of them have already successfully undergone various dredge trials and have been accepted by the customer, while the remaining two are expected to be finished in 2026. The TSHDs are equipped with a dredge package designed and manufactured by Damen.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (Nasdaq: GLDD), the largest U.S. dredging contractor, reported third-quarter 2025 earnings that topped profit estimates but came in just shy of revenue expectations, reflecting steady operations amid a cooling federal project environment and a shrinking backlog.The company reported revenue of $195.2 million, a modest 2% increase from last year’s $191.2 million but below analyst estimates of around $200 million. Net income rose to $17.7 million…

In a year marked by uncertainty, the dredging industry remains resilient, adapting to evolving challenges with steady progress.As we look toward 2026, the outlook for dredging services and equipment remains strong, with the market projected to rise from $8.9 billion to $9.3 billion—a 4.5% year-over-year improvement.Yet, as demand grows and expectations shift, industry operators must ask a more nuanced question: should they invest in brand-new equipment or retrofit existing assets?This decision is rarely straightforward; rather, it’s shaped by a multitude of practical considerations.

Van Oord has been awarded the IADC Safety Award 2025 during the Annual General Meeting of the International Association of Dredging Companies (IADC) in Stockholm, Sweden.The award recognises Van Oord’s newly designed gasket that significantly reduces the risk of injury during pipe assembly.When connecting the flanges of steel reclamation pipes, a paper gasket is placed in between to seal the gap. When using traditional gaskets, workers have to hold the gaskets in place during the sealing process, creating a potential risk of finger injuries.

AD Ports Group announced the signing of a major dredging agreement between its Karachi Gateway Terminal and Van Oord, a Netherlands-based leader in dredging and marine contracting, to expand the flow of trade through the Group’s port terminals in Pakistan.Led by the Group’s international ports operating arm, Noatum Ports, the project will deepen berths and navigational channels at Karachi Gateway Terminal (KGTL), a container terminal, enabling the accommodation of vessels from 305 meters to 350 meters in length and 13 meters to 15.5 meters in draft.

Mobile Pulley, a manufacturer of pumps, dredging equipment, and heavy industrial components, has appointed Stirling Snow as its new Director of Engineering in Mobile, Alabama.Snow brings nearly a decade of hands-on experience in design and engineering, and will help drive innovation in Mobile Pulley’s core capabilities - casting, machining, fabrication, and dredge pump systems.In his new role, Snow will lead the engineering team in developing and delivering end-to-end solutions…

The International Association of Dredging Companies (IADC) bestowed the Young Author Award 2025 to Rick van de Wetering, Research Engineer at Royal IHC and Ph.D. candidate at Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. IADC’s Young Author Award is given annually to “stimulate the promotion of new ideas and encourage younger men and women in the dredging industry." The award is granted at industry-leading conferences, with 2025’s winning young authors selected from the proceedings of the 24th WODCON Congress…

McCullough Engineering Services (MES) announced the successful completion of restoration efforts on the Stuyvesant, a trailing suction hopper dredge owned by The Dutra Group. The vessel suffered significant fire damage on November 2, 2024, and was returned to full operational status in less than eight months, completing sea trials on June 20, 2025.The repair work was conducted at BAE Systems Jacksonville, with MES leading the project from damage assessment through final commissioning.

Conrad Shipyard won the Western Dredging Association (WEDA) Safety Excellence Award in the Dredging Trade Partner category, a recognition that highlights Conrad's commitment to safety, operational excellence, and its partnership with the U.S. dredging industry. Presented late last month during the 2025 WEDA Annual Dredging Summit & Expo, it celebrates companies who demonstrate outstanding safety performance and continuous improvement in protecting personnel, property, and the environment.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, has received more than $218 million in funding for numerous infrastructure improvement, dredging and environmental projects benefiting Maryland, Pennsylvania, southern New York, and the District of Columbia.The financing includes $62 million towards Baltimore Harbor operations and maintenance and $71.9 million for the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island project.This funding is through the fiscal year 2025 Work Plan for the Army Civil Works Program, which is Congressionally authorized funding specifically for USACE.

Alternative investment firm Investcorp has signed a cooperation agreement to invest in a $550 million infrastructure project in Port of Duqm in Oman.Investcorp Aberdeen Infrastructure Partners (AIIP) – a joint venture with Aberdeen plc, will be the shareholder in the project, alongside the Port of Duqm Company, the DEME Group and Port of Antwerp Bruges (jointly formed a consortium named CAP INFRA).This investment is closely aligned with AIIP’s mandate to invest in long-term concessions across the GCC countries and the broader MENA region…