Page 41: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2020)

DREDGING also from the project inspection by our they are not really impacting us, because

How has the current COVID-19 clients who are able to remotely moni- we already comply.

pandemic materially impacted your tor our work for compliance with their company to date?

How is GLDD investing today to en-

Owing to the discipline of our preex- requirements. None of this takes the sure it tomorrow?

isting safety culture, we were able to worker out of the picture in the dredging quickly adapt and implement safe op- world although we are having to provide We just announced a new build hop- erating procedures for our crews and added training as automation becomes per dredge which will be a $100 mil- employees. We have restricted travel standard. lion investment, in addition to our Ellis and have been working remotely from Island, the largest hopper dredge in the

What one piece of legislation or our corporate offices since April. We U.S. which cost $170 million and was societal movement do you see on the have made extra precautions to reach put in service two years ago. We also re- horizon that you figure will have the out to our crews on their shift changes cently bought a large clamshell dredge greatest impact on your business for as well as their time off practices. We and have put it into service on the East the generation to come?

did not have any cases for the first three Coast and have also brought two of our months, but have had several encoun- We will respond to those changes large class cutter dredges back to the ters with positive tests, leading to crew when and if they come. Certainly the U.S. market. I would want to point out changes and idling vessels while be- equipment we use is more efficient on a our investment in our people as well. ing disinfected. But since we have had lot of levels and all our new equipment We believe the move to regional offices such good discipline at all levels we features the latest most efficient en- will allow our next generation talent to have been able to execute the protocols, gines. The U.S. already has very strin- showcase their skills and experience and take care of the employees as a prior- gent environmental standards so when help shape the company for an even bet- ity, and then get back to work. I have to issues like IMO fuel standards come up, ter future. complement both the SIU and Operating

Engineers unions who have been terrific partners through all this.

What do you consider to be the number one technology/innovation that enables a dredger to do its work more safe, efficient and cost-effec- tive?

While there are many technologies and innovations that can help drive effi- ciency and cost effectiveness, safety is a core principal that only works when all parts of the company embrace the con- cept that we will do everything in our power to protect our employees. This is my attitude that is shared by my senior

STEADFAST QUALITY management and extends to deck level

UNMATCHED SERVICE and office workers alike to make sure no $_;-uv_-??v?-m7v!;]bv|u?1omvbv|;m|?? one gets hurt.

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Automation & Autonomy: There has _oov;|oY?|_;?ou?7Lv?o1-?Y-]l been a palpable movement through- out maritime to advance automation and autonomy. How do you see this impacting dredging operations?

Automation has impacted almost ev- www.register-iri.com | [email protected] ery phase of the dredging operation not m|;um-?om-?!;]bv|ub;vkm1l only from the production standpoint but bm-L?b-?om?b|_|_;-uv_-??v?-m7v-ub?l;sourou-|;7lbmbv|u-|ouv www.marinelink.com 41

MR #8 (34-49).indd 41 8/11/2020 10:00:24 AM