The U.S.-Flag dredging industry commemorates the 77th anniversary of the Japanese air raid on the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor highlighting the critical need for a robust American shipbuilding capacity to ensure for the preparedness of the nation.
“Today our brothers and sisters of the U.S Merchant Marine look to the past sacrifices made by 2,403 U.S. servicemen who died in the attacks on Pearl Harbor. We honor the members of the U.S. Armed Services,” said William P. Doyle, CEO of the Dredging Contractors of America.
The American-Flag dredging industry is building ships, creating jobs, and ensuring the economic and national security of the United States. The U.S.-Flag Jones Act dredging industry is an integral part of the 500,000 jobs supported by the U.S. maritime industry.
The American dredging industry is amid a $1.5 billion dredging fleet expansion. New investments include four large cutter suction dredgers, two large hopper dredges and approximately 50 barges built in shipyards across the United States, including Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City, FL, Conrad Shipyard in Morgan City, LA, and Halimar Shipyard, also in Morgan City. In addition, Callan Marine is constructing a massive 32 inch hydraulic cutter suction dredge at C&C Marine Shipyard in Belle Chasse, LA. Dutra Group is currently building two 6,000 cubic yard hydraulic dump scows in Corn Island Shipyard in Grandview, IN. And Weeks Marine is building a 30 inch cutter head suction dredge at C&C Marine Shipyard. Further, Manson Construction has commenced the design phase on a large-scale, self-propelled Glenn Edwards Class hopper dredge, and Cashman Dredging is procuring log-lead time equipment for the construction of two 6,000 cubic yard hopper dredges.
“These vessels are being custom built to meet the needs of the domestic marketplace, and to ensure a shipbuilding capacity that will serve all Americans in our national security preparedness,” said Matt Paxton, President of the Shipbuilders’ Council of America.
Dutra Group:
U.S.-Flag Jones Act dredging company, Dutra Group is currently building two 6,000 cubic yard dump scows in Corn Island Shipyard in Grandview, Indiana. Among other projects, Dutra began construction of the Jacksonville Harbor Deepening Project in February 2018, which will take the depth of the federal channel to 47 feet. The Jacksonville Harbor Deepening Project is being funded through federal, state and JAXPORT investments, plus contributions from specific private tenants and potentially from the City of Jacksonville.
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock:
U.S.-Flag dredging company Great Lakes Dredge and Dock (GLDD) is dredging in South Carolina delivering for the Port of Charleston and making the area big ship ready for the Super-post Panamax vessels transiting the newly expanded Panama Canal. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced on November 21, 2018 funding of $41.4 million for the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project in the Fiscal Year 19 Work Plan, funds that will further the progress of deepening the Charleston Harbor to 52 feet.
Callan Marine:
U.S.-Flag dredging company, Callan Marine, is building a massive 32 inch suction cutter dredge General MacArthur at C&C Shipyard in Belle Chase, Louisiana.
Manson Construction and Marinex Construction:
U.S. Jones Act dredging companies Manson and Marinex deepen the U.S. Submarine Base, Kings Bay Naval Facility in Georgia. The Submarine Base is the U.S. Atlantic Fleet’s home port for U.S. Navy Fleet ballistic missile nuclear submarines armed with Trident missile nuclear weapons. Dredging crews completed the entrance channel and portions of the inner waterway at Kings Bay in April (2018). As part of the project, beach compatible sand was placed in the northern part of Fernandina Beach in Nassau County. Dredging and beach renourishment at Fernandina Beach and Fort Clinch State Park will get underway in December. Sponsored by the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay and the City of Fernandina Beach, the project is critical to the Naval Base and also to the movement of commercial cargo, including American made exports.
The U.S.-Flag Jones Act dredging industry is an integral part of the 500,000 jobs supported by the U.S. maritime industry. Investment decisions are reliant on the perceived permanence of the Jones Act – the single, most fundamental domestic maritime law that has enabled the overall U.S. maritime industry to generate $100 billion in annual economic output, $30 billion in annual employee compensation, $11 billion in annual tax revenues and $46 billion in value-added.
