Conrad cuts steel for GLDD hopper dredge

Bottom Row L to R: Vidar Lindmoen, GLDD New Build Program Director; Dan Conrad, Conrad Senior Vice President; David Simonelli, GLDD COO; Dave Mercer, Conrad Senior Project Manager. Top Row L to R: Brett Wolbrink, Conrad COO; Dan Gaiennie, GLDD Director Engineering; Brian Barton, GLDD Site Supervisor; Bobby Gomez, GLDD Electrical Systems Manager; Chris Roberts, GLDD Vice President, TSHD Fleet Manager

Signaling the start of construction of a 6,500-cubic-yard trailing suction hopper dredge, Conrad Shipyard hosted a steel cutting ceremony for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) at its Deepwater South shipyard in Amelia, La., on February 5. Delivery of the vessel is scheduled before the end of second quarter 2023.

“The steel cutting for this new hopper dredge is an important milestone for Great Lakes as we strategically invest in our fleet capacity to meet the nation’s maritime infrastructure needs,” GLDD Chief Operating Officer David Simonelli, told the audience of Conrad and GLDD managers, shipyard workers and guests.

“We are proud to partner with Conrad in the construction of this state-of-the-art Jones Act-compliant vessel which when operational will rebuild and protect our shorelines, deepen and maintain shipping channels and help restore Louisiana’s eroded barrier islands and marshes.”

Being built to a basic design by Netherlands-headquartered C-Job Naval Architects, the dredge will feature two 800 mm suction pipes and will be able to dredge at depths of up to 100 feet. The vessel has principal dimensions of approximately 346 feet in length, 69 feet in breadth and 23 feet in depth, and a total installed horsepower of 16,500 hp.

The new dredge will be well-suited to multiuse applications on various project types. It will be deployed for channel deepening, maintenance dredging, beach nourishment, and coastal restoration projects with short to medium distance transport requirements.

The dredge will be equipped with a direct high-power pump-ashore installation, dredging system automation, dynamic positioning and tracking, U.S. EPA Tier IV compliant engines, and additional features designed to minimize the impact of its dredging process on the environment.

The Tier 4- compliant engines significantly reduce the vessel’s climate footprint, while other incorporated features minimize turbidity and marine species entrainment.

Best-in-class accommodations feature single-occupancy staterooms, a workout room, and a movie theater that has raised seating and doubles as a training facility.

Vidar Lindmoen, GLDD New Build Program Director, said that he was looking forward to working with the Conrad shipbuilding team on the new contract:

“You are a very competent and hard-working team,” he said. “We are grateful for the very detailed engineering work that you provided, the open communication and your quick response to our every inquiry. We know from personal experience of Conrad’s outstanding reputation for delivering quality vessels on-time and within contracted cost. Our companies are a good match.”

“Great Lakes has been a valued customer of Conrad, and we appreciate their continued confidence in Conrad to construct this highly automated vessel to complement Great Lakes’ existing fleet,” said Conrad Senior Vice President and Director Dan Conrad. “We look forward to working with the Great Lakes team to provide another quality vessel to serve the US dredging market.”