Page 27: of Marine News Magazine (September 2025)

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Feature

Ship Repair personally was pulled in to paint some its role as a trusted partner in both brackets as the project came to a close, government and commercial mar- and he jokes that he’s not the neatest kets. “We’re not the biggest company painter: at the conclusion of the proj- in the world,” Smith re? ects, “but we ect, the chief engineer said ““Look, if bring agility, deep technical exper- there’s anything, we de? nitely cannot tise, and a one-stop shop mentality have Devin painting anymore!”] that clients value. The Stuyvesant

The project became a case study in project proves that when it counts, collaboration. MES coordinated in- we can deliver at scale.” surance liaison, ABS and Coast Guard As for the vessel, she’s back at work compliance, and day-to-day project dredging U.S. waterways, carrying the management. BAE Systems Jackson- scars of a ? re but also the imprint of a ville provided shipyard infrastructure. rapid, coordinated recovery effort. For

Dutra’s team supplied deep knowl- the maritime industry, the story stands edge of the vessel and manpower that as a reminder of both the vulnerability bridged critical gaps. of complex assets and the resilience of “This was not just about technical the teams that keep them operational.

execution,” says Smith. “It was about leadership and problem-solving. Every day, new challenges arose—tight dead- lines, complex tie-ins with auxiliary systems, troubleshooting across mul- tiple disciplines. Our job was to guide the team through those hurdles and keep momentum moving forward.”

A Broader Perspective

The Stuyvesant’s return is more than a single vessel success story. For

Dutra, it means restoring a critical dredging asset to service months ear- lier than many expected. For MES, it demonstrates the company’s ability to scale up, ? ex its workforce, and deliver under extraordinary pressure.

Smith also points to the human dimension: “Projects like this show what’s possible when owners, ship- yards, engineering ? rms, and crews align around a common goal. It wasn’t easy, but everyone pulled together.

That’s why we were able to hand the ship back in less than eight months.”

For MES, the project underscores www.marinelink.com MN 27|