Page 43: of Marine Technology Magazine (November 2018)

T e U.S. industry has proven it is large enough to complete all of the nation’s maintenance dredging and new work dredging in our ship channels. Land reclamation, mostly shore protection on the beaches.

Eric Ellefsen, President, Weeks Marine

Callan Marine will enter into the large dredging market in works closely with the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to the areas of major waterways, beach reclamation, and wet- mobilize dredges from other projects to address these nation- land restoration. Separately, the recent acquisition of Bean al needs. Today, the Corps Ready Reserve dredge Wheeler

Coastal and their management team will allow Callan Marine supplies that ? re truck response in the Lower Mississippi. In to continue its penetration into the dredging industry, as it the future, we believe the Corps could save money by using establishes new standards for ef? ciency and effectiveness. a private sector solution; for example, using a proven ready reserve approach. We are working with the Corps and other interested parties on an industry ? rst solution.

Does the U.S. have the collective dredging capacity to accomplish all of the maintenance dredging and the in- creasing number of deepening projects that are being What’s your ? eet renewal strategy and are you planning started in the response to the Panama Canal Expansion? any newbuilds in the near term? Tell us about your new- est assets and what’s coming next.

Jay Cashman: Yes, we do. The dredging industry is con- tinuously building vessels and equipment. We keep up with MM: W e are currently building a large market cutter suc- demand. tion dredge, the General MacArthur, for new work, land rec- lamation, beach renourishment, and maintenance dredging.

Maxie McGuire: Yes, there is adequate ? eet capacity as It is expected to be commissioned in Q2-Q3 2019. Our other well as a signi? cant amount of new builds in progress and assets are new, as well, dating back to 2018, 2017, and 2009 recently entering the market due to the increase in funding for respectively. The General MacArthur is currently under con- our nation’s infrastructure investments. We’re able to make struction at C&C shipyard in Louisiana. investment decisions that will carry based on a level of cer- tainty that we are comfortable with. EE: Weeks has been making major investments over the last decade, both in dredging vessels and all the support equip-

Eric Ellefsen: The U.S. industry has proven it is large ment necessary to perform major dredging projects. Ancil- enough to complete all of the nation’s maintenance dredging lary equipment, including boosters, barges, boats and miles and new work dredging in our ship channels. Land reclama- of discharge pipeline are an essential component of any tion, mostly shore protection on the beaches, has also been a dredging operation. Every Weeks dredge makes use of ad- growth market that the industry continues to respond to. In vanced automation, and ever more powerful and fuel-ef? cient fact, navigation interests will bene? t from the ongoing indus- engines to drive both propulsion and pumps. Our newest hop- try investment to better serve the reclamation market. There per dredge, MAGDALEN, just went to work on the Atlantic will always be either unforeseen, or unprepared for, chal- Coast this year (2018). She was built in Eastern Shipyard, lenges that might produce a short-term hopper dredge short- Panama City, FL, and is the size of our two existing hopper age on occasion. In the winter, when every entrance channel dredges combined. She is fast, shallow draft, and can pump in the South Atlantic must be maintained over a four-month out over long distances, thereby reducing the need for booster period due to an environmental window, coupled with a si- pumps. We are very happy with her early performance and multaneous rise in the Mississippi River, sometimes puts a look forward to seeing all that she will do the years ahead. little stress on the hopper dredging sector. However, industry Both the modernized and highly automated BE Lindhom and www.marinetechnologynews.com

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