Dredger Miss Katie christening ceremony next week

Dare County, in partnership with EJE Dredging Service, will host a christening ceremony and community day in Wanchese on Thursday, October 13, to honor Miss Katie, the new 156-foot-long shallow-draft hopper dredge.

The Miss Katie – which is the result of a yearslong collaboration between Dare County officials and EJE Dredging Service, who owns the dredge – departed from Conrad Shipyard in Louisiana on the morning of Saturday, August 13.

On the afternoon of Friday, August 19, she officially arrived in Wanchese, which will serve as the dredge’s homeport.

Under the direction of the Oregon Inlet Task Force, Miss Katie will be tasked with helping to address the significant shoaling that occurs in various channels and inlets throughout Dare County in an effort to keep these waterways open and navigable for both commercial and recreational vessels.

The christening ceremony will be held at Wanchese Harbor beginning at 4:30 p.m.

This event will conclude with a bottle of champagne being broken against Miss Katie’s bow to bless the vessel with good luck and safe travels.