Posted on July 16, 2025
OCEAN CITY, Md. – A long-awaited emergency dredging project in Ocean City will get underway Wednesday, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ dredge boat Merritt. The project had been originally scheduled to start July 21 but was pushed up to begin this week.
Dredging equipment was expected to arrive for the new date on Tuesday, July 14, however the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ attribute the delay to the vessel breaking down over the weekend.
The Corps plans to remove approximately 7,500 cubic yards of material from the bay near West Ocean City and the inlet, where shoaling has made navigation difficult, even for experienced boaters according to Gregory Dorm.
Dorn, who has spent more than 30 years sailing in Ocean City, said the sand buildup is the worst he’s ever seen. “My neighbor down here has been a monster on the water for at least 15 years,” Dorn said. “And he got stuck the other day. First time ever.”
The project comes just in time for the White Marlin Open, one of the busiest times of year for Ocean City’s waterways. “I think if it’s going to be done—and it should—it’s a great idea to do it before that,” Dorn added.
The Corps plans to remove approximately 7,500 cubic yards of sand from the bay near West Ocean City and the inlet.
While many are relieved to see the project start, others are skeptical, saying the sand will just fill back in quickly, or that dredging may not be necessary at all. One local tow boat operator said they haven’t seen a major increase in boats getting stuck and believe the channel remains safe if boaters follow the markers.
But Dorn disagrees, “There is less boatable water than I’ve ever seen. The channels are too tight, and even where the markers are and the charts are, you still hit ground,” he said.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said dredging will begin as early as Tuesday and is expected to take eight to 10 days to complete.
