Page 31: of Marine News Magazine (January 2022)

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Feature

Dredging

Obviously, all of these projects will not require dredging, but, just as obviously, many will. (Note: IIJA information in this report is from a Summary released by Sen. Maria

Cantwell, Wash.)

Dredging executives are taking a ? ne-toothed comb to the IIJA to uncover exactly where new opportunities will arise. One person told me that his team is holding their cards very close to avoid tipping-off competitors about new project possibilities.

One area in which new work is very likely is within the

Army Corps’ Operations and Maintenance funds. IIJA provides $4 billion, over three years, to pay for dredg- ing Federal navigation projects and repairing damages to

Corps projects caused by natural disasters. It’s not hard to see, though, that dredging will be a necessary part of many projects in most of the funding categories listed above.

Opportunities expand further when one considers the har- bor and waterways trust fund requirements established just a year ago by WRDA 2020.

Richard Balzano is CEO & Executive Director of the

Dredging Contractors of America, named to that spot in

December 2020. Balzano has over 30 years of maritime

DCA and government experience, including a stint as MARAD

Deputy Administrator.

His comments on new funding. “We do not know what the ? nal numbers are yet and how the Corps plans to im- “The Corps and plement a strategy,” he wrote in response to email ques- tions. He added that “we will not know the real totals until industry must continue an appropriations bill or BBB (“Build Back Better” HR 5376) gets passed.” to work together and

With the Corps’ budget set to double this year, Balzano said “the Corps and industry must continue to work to- treat the dredging gether and treat the dredging program more as a national program.” He said that District coordination is one way to program more as a make the best use of all resources. He said “the industry’s massive private investment in recent years” means compa- national program.” nies are ready to continue “our work with the Corps to in- crease ef? ciency and deliver better outcomes for the Corps, industry, America’s waterways, and taxpayers.” - Richard Balzano,

Maxie McGuire is President, Callan Marine Ltd., based

CEO & Executive Director, in Galveston. McGuire was asked to comment on how he thought new IIJA funding would impact the dredging indus-

Dredging Contractors of America try. Callan’s work includes federal navigation, beach restora- tion and private sector projects for ship/barge dock owners.