Page 12: of Marine News Magazine (July 2026)

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Markets

Dredging

U.S. Dredging:

A Cornerstone of Maritime

Commerce and National Defense

By William P. Doyle

There are several major dredging opportunities emerg- ed. Most importantly, the pumps, canals, and conveyance ing across the United States that extend well beyond tra- systems that supply water for drinking, agriculture, indus- ditional maintenance dredging, channel deepenings, or try, and environmental purposes are increasingly operat- harbor expansions. Increasingly, the American dredging ing below their intended design capacity. Agriculture is industry is becoming a strategic tool for addressing some the largest economic driver in the Delta, and the effects of of the nation’s most pressing challenges, including water sediment accumulation have reduced the ability of many security, agricultural sustainability, coastal resilience, mari- farmers to fully irrigate their crops, resulting in lower ag- time industrial revitalization and national defense. Among ricultural productivity and fewer employment opportuni- the most signi