Boskalis dredge deployed on sand berm building effort

The State of Louisiana has contracted Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. to deliver sand for berms to protect the Louisiana coast from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The Boskalis U.S.-flag trailing suction hopper dredge Stuyvesant, has been deployed as the first U.S. hopper thus far.

The sand berms, which will be approximately 75 km long, will be positioned to the south of New Orleans, in line with the Chandeleur Islands and stretching from East Grand Terre island to Sandy Point. The 6 ft high sand berm will help block the oil from entering the stateÕs more fragile and harder-to-clean marshes.

Boskalis is also supplying its expertise to the clean-up effort. It is supporting the authorities with the installation and deployment of rigid sweeping arms made available by the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.

Boskalis says it has years of experience in this field and has teamed up with the Dutch Ministry successfully in the past to clean up oil throughout Europe.