The Dredging Contractors of America has received new information from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA-CW) regarding upcoming administrative reforms and congressional activity related to the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026).  The Office is serious about its initiative for “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork”.

DCA leadership recently met in the Pentagon with the Honorable Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary…

DCA’s William P. Doyle and U.S. Maritime Administrator Stephen Carmel met Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at U.S. DOT- MARAD Headquarters in Washington, DC. 

They discussed dredging, the Jones Act, and the promising outlook for the American-flag maritime industry.  Captain Carmel is off to a great start. With deep commercial-sector experience including at sea, he is exceptionally well suited for MARAD’s role and the mission ahead.  Strong meeting, strong momentum, and…

Largo, Florida company brings over twenty years of dredging and environmental restoration expertise to DCA

The Dredging Contractors of America (DCA) is proud to welcome Gator Dredging, headquartered in Largo, Florida, as the newest member of the association. Founded in 2005 by William Coughlin (Engineer) and Philip Findlay (General Contractor), Gator Dredging combines engineering expertise with a commitment to environmental stewardship.  For over twenty years, Gator Dredging has…

The Dredging Contractors of America congratulates Adam Telle on his confirmation by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASACW). The Senate approved his nomination by a 72–22 vote on Saturday, August 4, 2025, just before adjourning for the summer recess. President Donald J. Trump nominated Mr. Telle on March 24, 2025.

We look forward to working with him as he…

The United States maritime industry is experiencing an historic resurgence, driven by a coordinated effort from both Congress and the Executive Branch to rebuild domestic capacity, ensure fair competition, and bolster national security. This report provides a detailed overview of recent developments shaping the future of U.S. maritime power—from the rapid growth and investment in the Jones Act dredging sector, to sweeping federal policies targeting unfair foreign…

The U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025, tasked the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) with assessing how reduced dredging capacity may have impacted designated strategic seaports. In response, USTRANSCOM submitted a report titled Dredging and the Strategic Seaport Program, which has recently been declassified and made available to the public. The report outlines operational impacts, identifies root causes…

In a series of board and membership meetings last week the Dredging Contractors of America (DCA) unanimously voted to accept Harry Stewart as the President of the DCA Board of Directors and Travis Boone as its Senior Vice President.  Harry Stewart is the President and CEO of San Rafael, California based The Dutra Group.  Travis Boone is President and CEO of Houston, Texas based Orion Group…

On April 9, 2025, U.S. President Donald J. Trump issued a sweeping executive order (EO) to revitalize U.S. maritime power.  The purpose of the EO is to set forth a policy to revitalize and rebuild domestic maritime industries and workforce to promote national security and economic prosperity.  Many provisions in the EO set 30-day to 210-day time lines for various cabinet secretaries and agency heads to develop…

By: William P. Doyle
Date:  March 26, 2025

We are at the one-year since the Francis Scott Key (FSK) Bridge collapsed over the Patapsco River’s Fort McHenry Channel in Baltimore, Maryland.  Nearly 100 percent of the cleanup; all of the wreckage and debris removal operations were conducted by the Jones Act private sector U.S. maritime industry.

The FSK bridge collapsed at about 1:28 a.m. local time on March 26, 2024 after the…

William P. Doyle, Chief Executive Officer of the Dredging Contractors of America said: “In the wake of President Donald J. Trump’s address to Congress on ‘boosting our defense industrial base and resurrecting the American shipbuilding industry,’ The Dutra Group is investing in American shipbuilding by ordering this huge Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge from Eastern Shipbuilding Group – Built in America to Serve America!”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Rafael, California 

Today (20 March…