Alabama Shipyard to drydock hopper dredge Wheeler

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District has awarded an $11.4 million contract to Alabama Shipyard LLC to drydock and repair the hopper dredge Wheeler.

The Wheeler, operated by the New Orleans District, is the largest hopper dredge in the Corps fleet. Although the dredge is maintained in a state of readiness for worldwide operations, it spends the majority of its time operating in the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River, dealing with shoaling problems that occur during high and low water.

The dry-docking of the Wheeler includes (but is not limited to) steel repairs to the hull and hopper, repairs/restoration of the dredging systems, maintenance and steel repair on the vessel’s internal tanks, work on the propulsion and steering systems, maintenance and repair of various support systems onboard the vessel, and painting interior and exterior portions of the ship.

Work will be performed in Mobile, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of December 6, 2024.