Page 15: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Mar/Apr 2017)

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DREDGING & INFRASTRUCTURE

DIGGING DEEP FOR GOOD NEWS

Credit: Van Oord

DREDGING FIRMS LOOK AHEAD TO MORE BUSINESS, HERE

AND ACROSS THE BIG POND. ALONG THE WAY, MOTHER

NATURE AND GOOD BUSINESS PLANNING WILL BOTH HELP.

BY BARRY PARKER n the waning days of 2016, the outlook brightened dra- quee projects at Port Everglades (with a Federal contribution matically for the big U.S. dredging contractors. Just be- of $229.8 million) and Charleston, SC (with $231.2 million

Ifore Congress dispersed for the Holidays, then-President Federal cost). Hence, for the domestic dredging industry, and

Obama signed a pivotal piece of legislation – the Water Infra- the blue water ports they serve, the bill was good news indeed. structure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, S612. Key William Hanson, Washington, DC-based Vice President at aspects of the bill: Great Lakes Dredge and Dock, the largest dredging contractor • Authorized needed investment in America’s ports, in the States,) explained to MLPro, “WIIN allows projects to channels, locks, dams, and other infrastructure that become eligible for funding. We look to WRDA bills to set supports the maritime and waterways transportation the stage for future projects, but to the appropriations budget system and provides