Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) announced today the execution of a definitive contract for the construction of a 6,500-cubic-yard-capacity trailing suction hopper dredge.
With expected delivery in the 1st quarter of 2023, the vessel will complement the company’s existing six-dredge hopper fleet, including the ATB Tug Douglas B. Mackie and 15,000-cubic-yard-capacity barge Ellis Island.
Lasse Petterson , Chief Executive Officer and President commented, “As the leader in the US Dredging industry, Great Lakes continues to strategically invest in its dredging fleet. This highly automated new build vessel will increase the capabilities of our hopper fleet in the coastal protection and maintenance markets as well addressing specific needs in the growing offshore wind market.”
GLDD hired Conrad Shipyard of Morgan City, LA for the construction of the new vessel, with an option to build an additional dredge, should market conditions warrant.
Conrad will perform the detail design and construct the dredges at its Amelia, LA location based on a regulatory-level design provided by Great Lakes’ in-house engineering department in collaboration with C-Job Naval Architects.
According to the company, the innovation endures with the construction of this new vessel, with a hopper capacity of 6,500 cubic yards, supporting the modernization and diversification of GLDD’s dredging fleet.
The dredge will feature two 800mm suction pipes and will be able to dredge at depths of up to 100 feet, with principal dimensions of approximately 346 feet in length, 69 feet in breadth and 23 feet in depth and total installed horse power of 16,500.
The newbuild will be well-suited to multi-use applications on various project types. It will be deployed for channel deepening, maintenance dredging, beach nourishment, and coastal restoration projects with short to medium distance transport requirements.
The dredge will be equipped with a direct high power pump-ashore installation, dredging system automation, dynamic positioning and tracking, US EPA Tier IV compliant engines, and additional features designed to minimize the impact of its dredging process on the environment.