Great Lakes in Oak Brook takes delivery of Ellis Island dredge

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp., a provider of dredging services in the United States, said it has taken delivery of the new build ATB hopper dredge Ellis Island and tug Douglas B. Mackie after successful completion of United States Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping regulatory sea trials.

David Simonelli, president of the dredging division said, "We are excited to take delivery of this advanced vessel which improves the competitiveness of our hopper group and represents a substantial reinvestment in our fleet. The Ellis Island significantly increases the United States commercial Jones Act hopper fleet capacity as the largest hopper dredge in the United States market, with a carrying capacity of 15,000 cubic yards."

CEO Lasse Petterson said "This addition to our fleet represents a great milestone in Great Lakes' history. The Ellis Island is capable of meeting the current and future U.S. Army Corps of Engineers', State and U.S. Ports' deepening, coastal protection, coastal restoration and maintenance dredging infrastructure demands. The Ellis Island's haul capacity and dredging systems will yield more efficient and faster project execution."

Oak Brook-based Great Lakes will perform U.S. Coast Guard emergency crew drills today and expects to receive the certificates of inspection thereafter. Upon receipt of the Certificates of Inspection, the Ellis Island and tug Douglas B. Mackie will depart Panama City, Florida for the Mississippi Coastal Improvement Program project and commence operations on this important long haul coastal restoration project.

The company employs civil, ocean and mechanical engineering staff in its estimating, production and project management functions. In its over 127-year history, the company said it has never failed to complete a marine project.