Posted on July 29, 2026
The Miss Katie has transformed navigation through Oregon Inlet, helping keep one of North Carolina’s most important waterways open for commercial fishing, recreational boating, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the local marine industry.
In this video, viewers will hear from local watermen, Dare County officials, and members of the Oregon Inlet Task Force about how the Miss Katie is improving navigation, supporting jobs, and providing a faster, more reliable approach to dredging.
Since arriving in Dare County in 2022, the Miss Katie has:
Dredged more than 3 million cubic yards of sand and sediment in area waterways
Helped maintain safe navigation through Oregon Inlet, Hatteras Inlet, and nearby channels
Saved taxpayers more than $16 million compared to traditional federal dredging costs
Supported the Wanchese Marine Industrial Park, home to 24 marine businesses and hundreds of local jobs
Become the first state-based dredge of its kind in the United States through an innovative public-private partnership
Reliable dredging is essential to the economy and safety of the Outer Banks. By keeping channels navigable, the Miss Katie helps commercial fishermen, charter captains, recreational boaters, emergency responders, and the U.S. Coast Guard safely travel through these ever-changing inlets.
Learn more about Dare County and its ongoing efforts to support navigation, commerce, and coastal resilience at DareNC.gov.
