Page 56: of Marine News Magazine (November 2022)

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Feature

Great Vessels of 2022

Dare County

Owner: EJE Dredging Service

Builder: Conrad Shipyard

MISS KATIE

Designer: Jensen Maritime

Dredging Service, as part of a public/private part- and operation of a new split-hull dredge that could be used nership with Dare County, has recently taken mostly in maintaining Oregon Inlet, as well as in Hatteras

EJE delivery of a new shallow-draft hopper dredge on the Outer Inlet and other state waterways. Funding for the project

Banks of North Carolina. The newly built Miss Katie departed came from a public-private partnership with the state of from Conrad Shipyard in in Morgan City, La. on August 13, North Carolina, in which the legislature allocated $15 mil- and arrived at its new home port in Wanchese on August 19. lion from the Shallow Draft Navigation Channel Dredging

Local commercial and sport ? shing industries, as well and Aquatic Weed Fund for the purchase of the dredge.

as the others that support them, are hoping that the new “With the arrival of the Miss Katie, we look forward to dredge will be an answer to the signi? cant shoaling issues providing an open and navigable channel for the water- that have plagued various channels and inlets throughout ways in the region,” said Jordan Hennessy, vice president

Dare County. “There’s about 1.2 million cubic yards of of EJE Dredging Service, the private partner that owns and sand that move across the inlet every year, and removal of operates the 156-foot-long dredge. “The Miss Katie has it is paramount,” said Oregon Inlet Task Force Chairman been speci? cally developed and designed to ensure she will and Dare County Commissioner Jim Tobin. “This really be able to safely navigate the channels and inlets of North affects our recreational ? shing and especially our commer- Carolina. The split-hull con? guration will allow spoil dis- cial ? shing business. We virtually have lost just about all of charge in shallow waters, thus preventing the vessel from our commercial ? shing ? eet because of the shoaling issues.” grounding on her own hopper load.”

Tobin said an economic impact study revealed the value Designed by Jensen Maritime, the ABS-classed dredge of an open inlet to be about $500 million a year, plus or will be able to operate up to 12 hours a day, weather per- minus, depending on the year, while a fully opened could mitting, providing strategic dredging in area waterways. be up to $1 billion per year, meaning investing to address Miss Katie’s operations will be managed by the Oregon the shoaling problem would deliver a big payback. Inlet Task Force, whose members will be responsible for

In May 2019, the Dare County Board of Commission- scheduling, planning and monitoring the success of the ers unanimously approved a contract for the construction dredging efforts that are undertaken.

56 | MN November 2022