Page 14: of Marine News Magazine (May 2022)

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Insights just invested nearly $200 million on the ? rst and only rock

Maritime has always had to compete with road placement vessel. This new vessel will service the offshore and rail for government ? nding dollars. What wind market and be Jones Act compliant.

more must be done to ensure maritime, and speci? cally dredging projects, receive their

A common challenge across many indus- fair share?

tries—not just maritime—is attracting and re-

RB: That has traditionally been the case, however, the sup- taining talent. Is this also a problem for dredg- ply chain crisis has exposed how important our ports and ing companies, and if so, what are they doing waterways are, how they’re an essential part of the supply to address it?

chain and broader transportation system, which is why we need to continue to bring attention to that and keep up RB: Yes, the ‘silver tsunami,’ as some call it, is a challenge for us all, including the maritime sector. We have begun to the ? ght for additional funding for maritime projects. reach out to the workforce training entities, like the unions and maritime academies, and exposing them to the types

Many parts of the offshore, maritime and lo- of jobs the dredging industry has to offer. One good thing gistics sectors are eager for new opportuni- we offer for the new socially-connected generations is that ties created by the U.S. offshore wind industry. our work is typically near costal or in the inland water-

What type of work/projects are/will be available ways and thus mobile phone connectivity is most always to dredging contractors, and will these provide available. We offer shorter rotations, as two weeks on/two a signi? cant boost for the industry?

RB: Offshore wind is an emerging marketplace and will be weeks off is the norm for our industry. And many times, an entirely new and vibrant marketplace for the maritime we have survey boats transiting to and from the plant to shore, so worker isolation is reduced. All in all, it is good sector. The dredging industry has a role to play, as the un- dersea structures and cable networks will all need work; it’s working environment that pays well and we hope that will an area that our member companies know well. Scouring attract the next generation of workforce. And like all sec- protection for the cable networks is also a need and our tors, technology is helping us all to be more ef? cient and largest member company, Great Lakes Dock and Dredge, make the jobs just that much easier.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock is building a rock installation vessel for offshore wind at Philly Shipyard.

Ulstein 14 | MN May 2022