Page 32: of Marine News Magazine (January 2025)

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Feature

Domesetic Dredging happening in domestic markets. “We’re always seeing the trolled by state-of-the-art software. It optimizes charge and dredge industry improve and innovate – that’s part of the discharge cycles by harnessing regenerative power from competition between the this heavily saturated market in normal digging operations and re-charging the batteries, the United States,” says Doyle, adding, “A relatively new further reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas entrant, Curtin Maritime, has really taken off in the clam- emissions. The DB AVALON has taken on some high- shell market over the past ? ve years.” pro? le dredging projects in the Houston Ship Channel,

According to Doyle, Martin Curtin, the founder of Cur- San Juan Harbor in Puerto Rico and is now working in the tin Maritime is an “on-the-deck-plates” type of guy, un- Chesapeake Bay on the Baltimore approach channels. Cur- derstands marine engineering and design, and is quick to tin is continuing to expand and has plans for more tech- sling a wrench if needed. Along the way, Curtin has taken nological advances with the construction of new dredges. clamshell dredges to the next level. The clamshell dredge

DB AVALON, for example, built in 2022, is a market- Building for tomorrow, today ? rst, hybrid-powered dredge vessel and is considered the Martin Curtin isn’t the only U.S. operator building dredg- lowest carbon footprint clamshell dredge of its class. The es for the U.S. Market. The broader U.S. dredge ? eet, the

DB AVALON employs the latest hybrid technology, com- U.S. private sector dredging industry, in particular, is in a bined with the most energy-ef? cient Tier 4 generators in great position. Bill Doyle explains, “The industry is keeping the market. Curtin claims their hybrid power source al- pace with its new construction of vessels and equipment. In lows for generators two-thirds the size of a conventional fact, the U.S. dredging industry is in the midst of a $3 billion dredge vessel, thereby reducing CO2 emissions by 30% recapitalization with a focus on enhancing the capacity and less than the highest tier rated generator available. The ef? ciency of the ? eet to meet the growing demands of federal two QSK60 generators manufactured by Cummins uses and private sector projects. The industry’s ability to deliver a proven Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCT) technology cost-effective solutions while contributing to environmental with a ? ow-through exhaust after-treatment system, using sustainability underscores its vital role in maintaining and diesel exhaust ? uid (DEF), to deliver ultra-low emissions. improving the nation’s waterways and coastal infrastructure.”

The four banks of 20 battery modules each, are con- The chart shown below shows just how much is going on: