Page 74: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2025)

The Final Word: US Dredging

A DREDGING RENAISSANCE

A COMPETITIVE, GROWING, AND

STRATEGIC JONES ACT INDUSTRY

By William P. Doyle, CEO, Dredging Contractors of America he United States dredging government estimate Rebuild Alabama Act (HB 2), raising the industry stands as one of the • 123 projects (90%) were gas tax by ten cents per gallon to fund most competitive, ef? cient, awarded below the GEAR critical transportation projects. Under that and strategically vital sec- • Average savings: 25% law, $11.7 million annually was dedicated

T tors of the maritime economy. As part of per project to port and dredging improvements, ac- the Jones Act ? eet—the original Build • Total estimated taxpayer counting for about 25% of total funding.

America, Buy America industry — it savings: nearly $829 million • On the federal side, the then not only strengthens our ports and wa- Total contract awards reached an Alabama U.S. Senator Richard Shelby terways but also anchors thousands of all-time high of $2.4 billion in 2024, secured $274.3 million through the middle-class jobs, spurs shipbuilding extending a three-year growth streak. FY2020 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers across the Gulf and East Coasts, and de- Roughly 41% of all awards went to hop- Work Plan.

livers exceptional value for taxpayers. per or dustpan dredges, with the balance The Corps and private dredging ? rms

The last several years have ushered in supporting cutter suction, clamshell, moved swiftly—and by October 3, a quiet renaissance. Dredging ? rms large and other dredging work. 2025, the Alabama Port Authority an- and small are modernizing their ? eets, Small businesses also had a landmark nounced that the Mobile Ship Channel expanding capacity, and deepening criti- year, winning $442 million in con- had of? cially reached 50 feet. Work cal U.S. channels faster than ever before. tracts—an 85% increase year-over-year now continues to widen the turning ba-

This work underpins both national com- and the highest share (31%) in a decade. sin near the Mobile Container Terminal, merce and maritime security, ensuring Each project attracted an average of with dredged material being reused for that U.S. vessels, U.S. workers, and U.S. three bidders, with some seeing as many shoreline restoration on Dauphin Is- shipyards remain at the center of our na- as six—an unmistakable sign of a vi- land—the process known as bene? cial tion’s infrastructure future. brant, competitive marketplace. use of dredged material.

A Competitive Industry A Deepening Gulf: Alabama’s Billions in Investment in New U.S.-

According to the 2024 U.S. Dredge 50-Foot Achievement Built Vessels

Report, 56 companies were awarded A prime example of U.S. maritime U.S. dredging companies are invest-

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredg- progress is the Port of Mobile, which ing billions in new Jones Act–compliant ing contracts, 20 large businesses and this fall celebrated the completion of vessels, strengthening both domestic ca- 36 small businesses. This underscores its channel deepening to 50 feet—a ? rst pacity and national shipbuilding.

the industry’s strong presence both in for any Gulf of Mexico port. The MV The Dutra Group of San Rafael, capability and competition. The report, Sakizaya Power was the ? rst deep-draft California, is building a 10,464-cubic- authored by Michael Gerhardt, analyzed bulker to call the newly deepened port, yard trailing suction hopper dredge, the 136 projects and compared winning bids marking a major milestone in American Adele, at Eastern Shipbuilding Group to government estimates and the Gov- maritime infrastructure. in Panama City, Florida. Scheduled for ernment Estimated Awardable Range This achievement stemmed from bold delivery in late 2028, the Adele will (GEAR). The ? ndings were remarkable: cooperation at every level of government. feature a V-shaped hopper, advanced • 88 bids came in below the • In 2019, Alabama enacted the energy-ef? cient propulsion, and 13,290 74 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • November 2025

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