Conrad Shipyard LLC, Morgan City, La., has been awarded a $24 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contract to design, build, test and deliver a new deck barge for the Corps' Vicksburg District.
The contract's total value is approximately $24.4 million, including incidental costs. The Corps received four bids for the project through an internet solicitation, with fiscal 2026 revolving funds obligated for the award.
"The vessel is for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District in support of its missions under hull number 914," an Army Corps spokesperson told WorkBoat. "The new vessel will primarily be used for river maintenance work, including clamshell dredging, riprap placement, bank grading, and snag clearing work along the Red and Ouachita Black Rivers. It will also be used in support of the lock and dam maintenance mission in the Vicksburg Area of Operation (AOR) on the Red and Ouachita Black Rivers.
"The vessel is replacing the Vicksburg Crane Barge 8101, which is over 40 years in service. The primary mission of the vessel will be to serve as a rugged duty cycle machine (75%) and capable of performing heavy lift work (25%)," the spokesperson said.
Additional design details provided by the Corps include four spud wells and spuds that can be lifted by the crawler crane carried aboard the barge.
"The barge will have 4 spud wells with spuds that will be able to be lifted by the crawler crane that will be on the vessel," the spokesperson said. "The anchor/mooring winches on the vessel bow will be critical in resisting flow of the rivers of operation."
The Corps did not provide additional details on what distinguished Conrad's proposal from the other three bids, but noted the shipyard was “selected due to meeting the needs of the government based on the available technical information and contractual requirements," the spokesperson said.
The Philadelphia District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is the contracting activity. Work is expected to be completed by May 11, 2028.
The award adds to a longstanding relationship between Conrad and the Army Corps. In 2016, Conrad was awarded a contract to build a 300'x68' crane barge and two deck barges for the Corps. The crane barge was built for the Corps' Rock Island District to support maintenance of the inland navigation system.
More recently, Conrad received a $45.8 million contract in September 2025 to build a crane barge for the Corps' Detroit District to support maintenance at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The shipyard was also awarded an $8.4 million contract for a steel-hulled deck barge for the Corps' Memphis District, designed to serve as a landing barge at the Ensley Engineer Yard in Memphis, Tenn.
Conrad has also previously worked with the Corps' Philadelphia District, including a roughly $9.1 million contract to construct a spud barge.
Conrad's government work extends beyond the Corps. The Louisiana shipbuilder has constructed Yard, Repair, Berthing and Messing barges for the U.S. Navy, which provide temporary berthing and work spaces for sailors while ships undergo maintenance and repair.
