Posted on November 5, 2025
The suction dredge Oyster Bay and its supporting equipment have arrived in Montauk, marking the start of active mobilization of a highly anticipate Army Corps of Engineers dredging of the inlet to Montauk Harbor, announced East Hampton Town on Monday.
The dredge Oyster Bay arrives at the Montauk Harbor Inlet. |. photo courtesy East Hampton Town
The town says the municipal parking lot on West Lake Drive near the western jetty is now closed for the duration of the project, and temporary beach closures may occur during sand placement.
The U.S. Coast Guard also advises mariners to use caution and operate at the slowest safe speed to avoid wakes near dredging equipment.
The project, slated to cost upwards of $12 million, will dredge the inlet to a depth of 17 feet, ensuring access to the harbor for the largest commercial fishing fleet in New York State, as well as an active recreational fishing port.
The project is also slated to place 110,000 cubic yards of sand on the eroded beaches to the west of the inlet.
Earlier this year, East Hampton Town announced it was using $1.1 million from its Host Community Agreement with the South Fork Wind farm to offset an increase in anticipated costs due to the federal government only receiving one high bid on the project. The town had already committed $1.5 million in a 2022 Project Partnership Agreement with the Army Corps, and the federal government had committed $9.5 million to the project.
H & L Contracting LLC has been awarded the contract for the project, which is expected to continue through January 31, 2026.
“Getting to this point has taken persistence and partnership at every level of government,” said Supervisor Burke-Gonzalez. “From my first meetings in 2014 to today’s mobilization, this project reflects the combined effort of so many, our federal and state partners, the Coast Guard, the commercial fishing community, and local residents who understand how critical this harbor is to Montauk’s identity and economy.”
Equipment on site will include the suction dredge Oyster Bay; a 144′ x 60′ mechanical dredge deck/spud barge; a 30′ x 90′ excavator barge; a 130′ x 40′ Clyde bin wall barge; tugboats Uncle Bill and Manhasset Bay; and several skiffs, all monitoring VHF-FM Channels 16 and 65.
A discharge pipeline extending from the dredge to the disposal site will include submerged crossings, which will be clearly marked with red and green navigation aids and lights, as well as spar buoys with yellow flashing lights to indicate the pipeline’s path, says the town.
Here are the town’s coordinates for the locations of dredging equiplment: (1st lat/long start of dredging area, 2nd lat/long end of the dredging area): Montauk Inlet 41-04- 45.43N, 071-56-17.51W; to 41-04-21.78N, 071-56-13.71W. Disposal site for the hydraulic cutter suction dredge: Sunset Beach 41-04-33.53N, 071-56-25.60W. Disposal site for mechanical dredging: Mattituck Reef 40-3-23.76N, 072-34-11.16W. One mooring Lake Montauk: 41-04-05.85N, 071-55-27.34W.
