The vessel will be 356 feet long, 79 feet wide and have a draft of 27 feet.
The dredging services company Weeks Marine Inc. has chosen BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Alabama to build an 8,500-cubic yard capacity twin screw trailing suction hopper dredge at its Mobile, Ala., facility. When construction is complete, the dredging vessel will be 356-feet long, 79-feet wide and have a draft of 27 feet.
The trailing suction hopper dredge to be built was designed by Netherlands-based IHC Merwede. The naval architecture and engineering firm Gibbs & Cox will provide functional engineering and detailed production support during dredge construction.
Eric Ellefsen, senior vice president and division manager of Weeks Marine, says, “We pride ourselves in being a leader in the dredging industry. We are dedicated to building and operating the most technologically advanced and environmentally sensitive equipment in the marketplace and are pleased to engage in this project partnered with BAE Systems and IHC Merwede. The expansion of our dredging fleet demonstrates Weeks Marine’s commitment to better serving our customer base and enhancing the overall capabilities and capacity of the U.S. dredging industry. When completed, this vessel will create over 35 permanent full-time jobs in the U.S. marketplace.”
Victor Rhoades, director and general manager of BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Alabama, says, “This is an exciting and positive opportunity for us. The Weeks Marine team has done a terrific job of working with us through the many details necessary to get a project like this put together. Award of the dredge is strategically important to our efforts to become an innovative leader in the commercial new construction market.