Posted on March 16, 2021
DredgeWire exclusive
“Further to our Featured Americas story from last week (Watermaster), DredgeWire has learned that Watermaster won this order in a tender issued by the New York State Canal Corporation in 2020. That tender specifically provided that joint ventures or subcontracts or coproduction agreements would be allowed, facilitating the participation of foreign technology companies like Watermaster of Finland. DredgeWire understands that Watermaster is partnering with an award-winning Michigan-based marine fabricator named Moran Iron Works to fulfill the order for New York State, in a first for Watermaster.
Watermaster North America, the licensee for the Multifunction dredge Model AMD 5000 (US version), is owned by the brothers Jonathan and Peter Dreyfuss.
Jonathan spoke with DredgeWire to fill in some more details.
Jonathan is the President and Peter, who focuses on the West Coast, is COO. They are supported by a team of University of Michigan graduates.
Jonathan said of the partnership:
“We could not be more pleased working with such a high quality fabrication firm as Moran Iron Works (MIW). I interviewed quite a number of shipyards in the eastern U.S. before discovering Moran. Not only are we glad to bring manufacturing jobs to Michigan, but also to be bringing new technology to the marine environmental remediation industry and the subsequent jobs created there. We anticipate a long relationship with MIW as we introduce this machine across the U.S. and Canada as a new means of addressing the increasingly necessary maintenance and remediation of waterways.”.
“We are excited to partner with Watermaster NA in a manufacturing venture that will ultimately better a small rural Michigan community and the great State of Michigan.” said Tom Moran, CEO and founder of Moran Iron Works. “Our team has been working hard with Watermaster NA and the engineering team in Finland to replicate the superb fabrication and assembly of the European machine. This is a serious machine for serious work.”
Moran has in the past successfully constructed multi million dollar aluminum ferries and ocean-going barges and similar vessels. It has succeeded in winning over half a million dollars in grants from the US government under a program designed specifically to assist small shipyards.
The collaboration between Moran and Watermaster Is a legal way for the foreign-based Watermaster to comply with the restrictions of the US Jones Act which require that vessels operating in American waters be US-built.
Dreyfuss concluded by telling DredgeWire:“ We just spoke with our liason from New York Canals, and they could not be more satisfied with their new Watermaster and plan on putting it to more good use this season on the canal”.
NY Canal bid info
Bid Name: Amphibious Multi-Purpose Dredge
RFQ Number: K20-10302067CC”
