Posted on July 23, 2025
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredge MERRITT, deployed from the Wilmington District, operates in Ocean City Inlet on July 16, 2025, using a side-casting method designed to maintain navigation channels in shallow water areas. The dredge drags along the bottom, picking up sand and ejecting it about 90 feet outside the navigation channel. The emergency operation is clearing approximately 10,000 cubic yards of sediment over an 8-10 day period with 12-hour shifts to ensure safe navigation for Coast Guard vessels, commercial fishermen, and recreational boaters during peak summer season.
