Congress recently made a major, if little noticed, new investment in American infrastructure. As part of the year-end budget deal, lawmakers released $10 billion that had been locked away in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) to be used for its intended purpose: dredging U.S. harbors to keep our ports open and to support U.S. economic and national security.

Maritime infrastructure is an indispensable national asset, which is why the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recognizes the Maritime Transportation System (MTS) as one of the seven critical subsectors within…

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), the voice of the nation’s domestic maritime industry, today applauds the new Executive Order to be signed by President Biden on January 25, 2021, “Strengthening ‘Buy American’ Provisions, Ensuring Future of America is Made in America by All of America’s Workers.”  Signaled as a priority, the Executive Order formally confirms the Biden Administration’s policy to strongly support American Maritime workers and businesses serving…

Quincy, MA — Today, Cashman Dredging and Marine Contracting Co., LLC of Quincy, Massachusetts, announced the execution of a design contract with IHC America Inc. for a new 6,500 cubic yard trailing suction hopper dredge. The new vessel will complement Cashman Dredging’s current fleet of specialized dredging equipment and will primarily service the coastal protection and navigation maintenance markets when it enters service in 2024.

“Innovation has always been a…

On December 22, 2020, the Dredging Contractors of America (DCA) praised congressional passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020 as part of the FY 2021 omnibus spending bill and urged President Trump to sign it into law. DCA’s CEO & Executive Director Richard Balzano made the following statement in support of WRDA’s passage:

“For the first time WRDA will open the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) for its…

The Dredging Contractors of America (DCA), the national trade association whose members are leading providers of dredging services for navigation, coastal protection, environmental restoration and shoreline resilience in the United States, announced on December 11, 2020, that Richard A. Balzano has been named Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director.

For more than 30 years Mr. Balzano has served the maritime trades in both the private and U.S government sectors. He…

Today, Seattle-based Manson Construction Co. announced the execution of a contract for the construction of a 15,000 cubic yard hopper dredge with Keppel AmFELS. Designed in collaboration with Hockema Whalen Myers Associates (HWMA), the Frederick Paup will be built at Keppel AmFELS’ facility in Brownsville, Texas and is slated to be fully operational in Spring 2023.

“This is an exciting time in the U.S. dredging industry,” said…

“The U.S. dredging industry joins the Corpus Christi, TX, community in deepest sorrow over yesterday’s pipeline incident involving the dredge Waymon Boyd. We send our thoughts and prayers to the injured and missing crew members, their families, and anyone who may have suffered from this terrible event,” said Eric Ellefsen, President of Dredging Contractors of America.

On July 30 Callan Marine of Galveston, Texas announced that a fifth cutter suction dredge (CSD), the General Bradley, will be added to the company’s fleet next year. The new dredge is a 28”, 341-foot long, diesel electric powered CSD with three ABC 12DCZ engines providing 9,260 total installed horsepower on board. Construction is already underway at Halimar Shipyard in Morgan City, LA, and the dredge is anticipated to begin…

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced on June 9, 2020 that William P. Doyle, CEO and Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America (DCA) and formerly a Commissioner at the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission, has been appointed to lead the Maryland Port Administration, and Executive Director of the Port of Baltimore.

“On behalf of the nation’s dredging and marine construction industry, we congratulate Bill on his impressive appointment and look…

Today, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD), the largest provider of dredging services in the United States announced the execution of a definitive contract for the construction of a 6,500-cubic-yard-capacity Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge (TSHD) with Conrad Shipyard of Morgan City, Louisiana. With expected delivery in the 1st quarter of 2023, the vessel will complement the company’s existing six-dredge Hopper fleet, including the ATB Tug Douglas B. Mackie and…