Posted on November 19, 2025
The 44-day federal government shutdown sent ripples through the economy and the justice system. But it didn’t stop dredging on Port of Morgan City waterways.
Mechanical difficulties may end up causing more delays than a pause in other government operations.
The dredging at the port’s federally authorized channel is funded through congressional appropriations to the Army Corps of Engineers, which lets contracts for the work.
At Monday’s Port of Morgan City board meeting, members received an update on dredging projects.
•The Arulaq, a specially designed agitation dredge, continues work at the lower end of the port’s channel, removing sticky “fluff” mud at a fraction of the cost incurred by conventional dredges. Monday marked the second anniversary of the official commencement date, and the $20.9 million project is scheduled to continue through 2027.
•Manson Construction has a contract for dredging at several sites, including the Atchafalaya bar channel, Berwick Bay near Conrad Shipyard and Stouts Pass. A dredge is at work in the bar channel and is expected to move to Stouts Pass within the next few weeks. The bar channel and Stouts Pass portion of the contract is for $8.9 million.
•Mike Hooks LLC has an $18.3 million contract for dredging bayous Chene, Boeuf and Black. But the two dredges assigned to Bayou Chene and Bayou Black, the Lorain Hooks and the Mike Hooks, are sidelined by mechanical breakdowns and are awaiting parts from overseas. The entire project is 56% complete.
•Weeks Marine has a $21.1 million contract for dredging in Atchafalaya Bay, the bar channel and Crewboat Cut. The contract was awarded in September, but a bid protest is holding up that work.
