Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. announced this week the exercise of the contract option to build a second 346'x69'x23', 6,500-cubic-yard-capacity trailing suction hopper dredge with Conrad Shipyard in Amelia, La. With expected delivery in the first quarter of 2025, the new vessel will be a sistership to the Galveston Island, presently under construction with delivery in early 2023.
Oak Brook, Ill.-based GLDD's hopper dredge fleet, including the ATB tug Douglas B. Mackie and 15,000-cu.-yd.-capacity barge Ellis Island and the Galveston, Liberty, Terrapin, Dodge and Padre Islands, comprise the largest hopper fleet in the U.S. dredging industry, GLDD said.
“As the leader in the U.S. dredging industry, Great Lakes continues to strategically invest in its dredging fleet,” Lasse Petterson, president and CEO said in a statement. “This highly automated newbuild vessel will be well-suited to multiuse applications on various project types. It will be deployed for channel deepening, maintenance dredging, beach nourishment, and coastal restoration projects to meet our nation’s maritime infrastructure needs. This vessel reinforces our commitment to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the robust U.S. dredging market.”
The dredge is identical to the Galveston Island and will feature two 800-mm suction pipes and will be able to dredge at depths of up to 100'. The dredge will have 16,500 total installed horsepower.
“Construction of the Galveston Island at Conrad has progressed on schedule and on budget. We are very pleased with the quality of construction and our strong partnership with Conrad,” said Petterson.
The dredge will be equipped with a direct high-power pump-ashore installation, dredging system automation, dynamic positioning and tracking, Tier 4-compliant engines, and additional features designed to minimize the impact of its dredging process on the environment.
The Tier 4-compliant engines significantly reduce the vessel’s climate footprint, while other incorporated features minimize turbidity and marine species entrainment.
Best-in-class accommodations feature single-occupancy staterooms, a workout room, and an innovative movie theater with raised seating that doubles as a training facility.
