By Mackenzie Eaglen (American Enterprise Institute) and Rep. Filemon Vela Jr. (D, Texas) The Navy’s challenges transcend this presidency and ordinary political churn. For decades shipbuilding was underfunded while maintenance, dry docks, and munitions also lagged. The result is strained at every layer, with future readiness sacrificed to meet today’s crisis. Shipsbreakdown, sailors have to… Read More
Norfolk Dredging Co., Chesapeake, Virginia, was awarded a $21,679,126 firm-fixed-price contract for construction services supporting the Beach Nourishment Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Townsends Inlet Project. Work will be performed in Strathmere, New Jersey, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 15, 2026. Fiscal 2026 construction, Corps of Engineers, civil funds in the amount of… Read More
Japan’s port strategy: control the system, not just the project The Matarbari deep-sea port in Bangladesh has now moved into execution, with dredging underway by a Penta-Ocean Construction / TOA Corporation JV. The award itself is old news — the shift to active work is what matters. The bigger story is the structure behind it. Through the Japan International… Read More
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Panama City, Fla., is working with Gulf County to develop a maritime training academy aimed at building a local pipeline of skilled labor, as workforce constraints continue to challenge shipbuilders across the industry. The planned Gulf County and Eastern Shipbuilding Group Maritime Academy will be located adjacent to the company’s Port St…. Read More
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Caribbean District, has awarded a $1.078 billion construction contract to Ferrovial Construcción PR, LLC, a subsidiary of the Ferrovial S.A. Group, Caribbean District Commander Col. Charles L. Decker announced today. This award is the largest Corps of Engineers Civil Works contract in Puerto Rico’s history and… Read More
Global law firm K&L Gates LLP advised American Maritime Partnership, a trade association representing US-flag vessel operators, on the successful defense of a constitutional challenge to the Jones Act in federal court. The Jones Act has been a cornerstone of US maritime law for more than a century, governing domestic waterborne commerce and national maritime policy. The K&L Gates team… Read More
HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Tidewater Inc. (NYSE:TDW) announced today revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2026 of $326.2 million, compared with $333.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Tidewater’s net income for the three months ended March 31, 2026, was $6.1 million ($0.12 per common share), compared with net income of $42.7 million… Read More
(HOUSTON) ABS has appointed U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral (Retired) Ronald J. Rábago as Senior Vice President of Government Services, further strengthening its leadership in support of government maritime programs worldwide. “Admiral Rábago brings exceptional government and industry experience that will further enhance the support we provide to our government clients in the U.S. and around… Read More
On April 1st, DSC Dredge welcomed Chris Baldwin as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Baldwin brings 15 years of experience in the maritime industry, with a strong background in commercial leadership and business growth. Prior to joining DSC, he served as Commercial Director for a harbor tug service provider, where he played a key… Read More
Western Dredging Association (WEDA), through its Safety Commission, recognizes the achievements in Safety Excellence made by WEDA Members annually. The WEDA Safety Commission awards multiple categories of achievement, including: – Dredging Project – Dredging Company – Industry Trade Partner – Government/Stakeholder Safety Award submissions are now open for 2026. Review the following guidance and send your… Read More
Have you signed up for the WEDA Midwest Chapter Short Course: “Resilience for Inland Systems, Infrastructure, and People”, yet? Be sure to sign up by APRIL 10th, space is limited!! Visit https://lnkd.in/gfdsn98h to sign up! Source
The GLGR Section thrilled to be hosting a panel on the current state of Great Lakes shipbuildng at our upcoming Winter Section Meeting on April 9th in Cleveland! The Shipbuilding Situation will be presented by Brendan Falkowski and will feature panelists from Great Lakes shipyards, engineering firms, and fleet operators offering a breadth of input from the… Read More
BATON ROUGE, LA — Coastal Day at the Louisiana Legislature will take place on Monday, March 30, 2026, providing numerous opportunities for coastal stakeholders to engage with one another and with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) staff. Business Networking and Matchmaking Events As part of the activities happening on Coastal Day, CPRA… Read More
(HOUSTON) ABS has appointed U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral (Retired) Ronald J. Rábago as Senior Vice President of Government Services, further strengthening its leadership in support of government maritime programs worldwide. “Admiral Rábago brings exceptional government and industry experience that will further enhance the support we provide to our government clients in the U.S. and around… Read More
On April 1st, DSC Dredge welcomed Chris Baldwin as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Baldwin brings 15 years of experience in the maritime industry, with a strong background in commercial leadership and business growth. Prior to joining DSC, he served as Commercial Director for a harbor tug service provider, where he played a key… Read More
LONDON and WASHINGTON, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Windward, the leading Maritime AI™ company, announced the appointment of Ron Kraitsman as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Kraitsman brings over 25 years of financial leadership experience scaling high-growth SaaS companies and will play a key role in supporting Windward’s continued global expansion across commercial and government markets. Kraitsman joins Windward… Read More
The Port of Long Beach has named longtime Port engineer Cesar Larios to lead the Harbor Department’s Construction Management Division. The Construction Management Division, part of the Port’s Engineering Services Bureau, oversees the construction phase of projects from start to finish. Larios joined the Port in August 2006 as a Construction Manager and worked his… Read More
California is investigating one of the Trump administration’s deals to end an offshore wind project. Golden State Wind was a floating offshore wind project proposed off California’s central coast. The California Energy Commission said Monday it issued an administrative subpoena to Golden State Wind. The commission said it is seeking documents and information about the company’s recent agreement… Read More
By Michelle Lewis The Trump administration has effectively frozen 165 new onshore wind farm developments in the US, leaving the projects on private land in limbo, the Financial Times reported yesterday. Combined, they represent around 30 gigawatts of electric generating capacity. The Financial Times, citing the American Clean Power Association and other sources, reports that the Pentagon is holding… Read More
By Maria Gallucci The developer Ocean Winds cut controversial deals with the Trump administration last week to abandon two U.S. offshore wind developments. But across the Atlantic, it’s making big strides — especially with floating wind. On Monday, Ocean Winds said its 30-megawatt project in the south of France has started delivering power to the country’s grid. The wind farm includes… Read More
LONDON and WASHINGTON, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Windward, the leading Maritime AI™ company, announced the appointment of Ron Kraitsman as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Kraitsman brings over 25 years of financial leadership experience scaling high-growth SaaS companies and will play a key role in supporting Windward’s continued global expansion across commercial and government markets. Kraitsman joins Windward… Read More
Why It Matters The Port of New Orleans has brought on Patton Boggs LLP to bolster its federal advocacy, filing a registration amendment on April 28, 2026 that adds transportation to its existing maritime lobbying agenda. The port is navigating a pivotal moment. A major terminal project is awaiting a federal construction permit, Mississippi River dredging remains chronically underfunded,… Read More
By Theresa Grundman GULFPORT, Miss. (WKRG) — The Mississippi State Port Authority has been awarded more than $11 million for “critical infrastructure improvements” at the Port of Gulfport, according to Congressman Mike Ezell (MS-04). According to a news release from the congressman’s office, the funds come from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development… Read More
By Ben Mause WASHINGTON — Rep. Andy Harris said on Monday that the cost of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge was expected to nearly double the previous $5 billion estimate before the project’s main contractor was let go. Now, he’s urging the federal government to reconsider funding as delays continue. A fiscal conservative and… Read More
By Bryan Gottlieb The U.S. Dept. of Transportation’s Maritime Administration on April 28 awarded about $774 million for port projects nationwide, advancing a construction pipeline spanning marine structures, rail connections, container yards and cargo-handling systems. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the investments are aimed at strengthening freight movement and economic resilience. “U.S. ports keep our grocery store… Read More
By Carla Teles The city hall of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, has launched since July 2025 one of the largest beach revitalization projects in the eastern United States, involving the suction and discharge of 2.2 million cubic yards of sand extracted from offshore deposits on the ocean floor to rebuild 46,500 feet of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean and Port Royal… Read More
Marinex Construction made good progress pumping sand on the beach near Bald Eagle Road in Sea Pines and moved northward. By Friday, they had reached the beach area close to Cedar Waxing Road, depositing over 75,000 cubic yards of sand along the way. Renourishing South Beach is the last leg of the Town’s Beach Renourishment… Read More
By Justin Breckenridge FORT PIERCE — After repeated efforts to protect the shoreline near the Fort Pierce Jetty, local officials are now looking at a more permanent solution to combat chronic erosion along the beach. Earlier this year, emergency measures were needed to prevent ocean water from breaching the dunes after delays postponed routine sand replenishment…. Read More
By Thanh Truong NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – It’s inevitable that New Orleans and much of coastal Louisiana will eventually be taken over by the Gulf, according to a new Tulane University study. Researchers say the question is not whether the coastline will keep moving inland, but how the state plans for it. “Ultimately, the main message of… Read More
By Rihem Akkouche The headline Speyside files for chapter 11 echoed through New York’s construction and materials sector Friday as Speyside Holdings LLC sought bankruptcy protection, listing more than $32 million in liabilities against less than $1.3 million in assets. The filing, lodged in federal bankruptcy court, signals a pivotal moment for the sand and stone supplier whose… Read More
By Ozten Shebahkeget An Alberta company that has proposed mining silica sand in Manitoba is partnering with the province’s biggest university on the experimental design of a groundwater monitoring network, using technology experts say is growing in importance for global groundwater research. Sio Silica president Carla Devlin says the mining company will work with the… Read More
Have you ever picked up sand only to realize how quickly it disappears? As children, we watched it slip through our fingers or fall through an hourglass without understanding what vanishing meant. Sand feels light and abundant, impossible to hold, and its market power mirrors this perceived triviality. The more we clutch what seems infinite,… Read More
Dear EarthTalk: “What is ‘sand mining’ and why is it bad for the environment?” — O.H., via email Sand mining, extracting sand from the earth, is the second most widespread human activity in marine environments, after fishing. Sand and gravel are the most extracted materials across the globe. According to the United Nations Environment Programme,… Read More
By Sam Barnes In a welcome turnabout, south Louisiana’s fabrication industry is enjoying an unexpected renaissance, thanks to a proliferation of government shipbuilding contracts for everything from ice cutters to autonomous military vessels. It has revitalized existing fabricators and attracted new ones, while leaving behind a decades-old dependence upon the offshore oil and gas market. And while… Read More
By Will Xavier The US Navy formally named the towing, salvage and rescue ship (T-ATS) USNS Solomon Atkinson during a ceremony in Mobile, Alabama, on Saturday, May 2. Built by Austal USA, the newest Navajo-class T-ATS honours the late Solomon Atkinson, a US Navy veteran and member of the Metlakatla Indian Community. A decorated US Navy SEAL who… Read More
More and more focus of Washington’s focus is being brought to bear on the revitalization of American shipbuilding, as evidenced by a joint committee hearing held last week in the U.S. House of Representatives. It surfaced the complaints typical of any policy discussion regarding the woes of the domestic shipbuilding sector: Delays, supply bottlenecks and cost… Read More
WESTMINSTER, Colo., April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB) today announced a specialized integration with Claude, the large language model and AI assistant from Anthropic, that makes it easier for Trimble® SketchUp® software users to create 3D models directly from conversational text or speech prompts. The powerful new capabilities are enabled by a SketchUp Connector model context protocol… Read More
ARC Surveying and Mapping transforms complex waterways into measurable actionable insight. By pairing an integrated sensor suite with disciplined processing the firm delivers centimetre level bathymetry layered sub bottom models and real time production metrics that accelerate every phase of a dredging program. The following article reviews the technology stack the workflow and verified results… Read More
The National Maritime Safety Association (NMSA) today announced the transition of presidential leadership during its Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jason Winter, Director, Safety/Training, CFS & Labor Relations at the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), has been named the new President of NMSA, succeeding recent President Dave Morgan of Cooper/Ports America. Dave Morgan has served as… Read More
The Public Ferry Coalition applauds the launch of the bipartisan Congressional Ferry Caucus, welcomes this important step in raising awareness of the vital role ferries play in transportation FAIRFIELD, CA – Yesterday, Representative John Garamendi (CA-08), announced the launch of the bipartisan Congressional Ferry Caucus for the 119th Congress, alongside co-chairs Representatives Emily Randall (WA-06), Nick Begich… Read More
A long-discussed plan to dredge St. Thomas Harbor to make way for massive Oasis-class cruise ships is on hold, after the V.I. Port Authority did not receive any responses to an invitation to bid on the project. Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. mentioned the lack of bids during Tuesday’s press briefing. Bryan spoke remotely from Miami… Read More
By Kaitlyn Aguiles OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C. (WECT) – Ocean Isle Beach officials announced dredging of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway will begin in the coming days, with material to be placed on the east end of the island. Town officials said Southwind Construction will place about 35,000 cubic yards of sand west of the terminal groin,… Read More
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Volunteers from Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola and the local community planted more than 2,500 native wetland plants on White Island May 2, in celebration of the installation’s 200th birthday and as part of a shoreline restoration project. “Forming this island as part of the project and getting it planted so that… Read More
By Kathryne Gest One missed step, one missed connection, and one split second can turn a routine task at height into a life-changing event. Falls from height remain the leading cause of death in construction, often during routine tasks where gaps in planning can turn into serious accidents. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,… Read More
Innovation is changing how we approach coastlines, redefining them not as rigid borders but as dynamic systems where engineering works in sync with nature. On April 20, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Charleston District, marked a milestone on the Isle of Palms by completing two forward-thinking dredging and sand placement efforts. Through the… Read More
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Volunteers from Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola and the local community planted more than 2,500 native wetland plants on White Island May 2, in celebration of the installation’s 200th birthday and as part of a shoreline restoration project. “Forming this island as part of the project and getting it planted so that… Read More
By Kathryne Gest One missed step, one missed connection, and one split second can turn a routine task at height into a life-changing event. Falls from height remain the leading cause of death in construction, often during routine tasks where gaps in planning can turn into serious accidents. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,… Read More
Innovation is changing how we approach coastlines, redefining them not as rigid borders but as dynamic systems where engineering works in sync with nature. On April 20, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Charleston District, marked a milestone on the Isle of Palms by completing two forward-thinking dredging and sand placement efforts. Through the… Read More
By Kyler Davis and Jacob Zdrojewski The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District, has taken a critical step toward large-scale ecosystem restoration of the Chicago Area Waterways System (CAWS) by completing a Federal Interest Determination (FID) report for the Chicago Area Waterways System Restoration and Recreation (CAWSRR) Study. The FID report was signed by… Read More
Mud Cat E Series Electric Dredges
ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Waterways Operators – the trade association of the U.S. tugboat, towboat and barge industry – and the National Safe Boating Council have partnered to create a video educating recreational boaters on how to safely interact with commercial vessels on the water. The three-minute video, titled Sharing the Water: Safe Boating on… Read More