Dutch And American Firms To Jointly Build Hopper Dredge In U.S.A.

C.F. Bean Corporation, New Orleans, La., and Adriaan Volker Dredging Company, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, have announced their intention to jointly invest in a trailing suction hopper dredge for operation in the United States.

To be named Eagle I, the dredge will have a 4,750-cubic-yard capacity and will be constructed in a United States shipyard. Construction on Eagle I is expected to be underway by February 1978.

J.W. Bean, president, C.F. Bean Corporation, said in making the announcement that preliminary design of the self-propelled vessel is in progress. Principals in the venture, he said, have met with the U.S. Maritime Administration and are making application for a MarAd loan.

Mr. Bean sees Eagle I as the response to new opportunities in the United States dredging market, since the vessel will be capable of working in offshore channels and exposed seas and will allow participation in that portion of the maintenance sector currently handled by hopper dredges operated by the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers.

Mr. Bean said Eagle I will make a significant contribution to the private dredging industry's capability for construction of new deepwater ports that must be built in order for this country to remain competitive in international commerce.

Additionally, he said, such a vessel will help solve many current environmental demands associated with inland disposal areas, given the vessel's ability to load dredged materials from inland and coastal waters and transport and dump these materials in acceptable offshore disposal areas.

C.F. Bean Corporation is a large international dredging contractor with extensive operations along the Gulf and East Coasts of the United States. Its international experience includes work performed in South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa, and the Far East.

Adriaan Volker Dredging Company, member of Royal Adriaan Volker Group, is one of the largest international dredging contractors, with operations in all parts of the world.

Volker's special know-how and experience with trailing dredgers is a valuable contribution to the new venture.

In addition to a large and modern dredging fleet, which besides hopper dredges includes all other types of dredging equipment, the Volker group has extensive experience in major pipeline construction projects, heavy civil construction and offshore works, and other related activities.

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