Eastern Shipbuilding cuts steel for USACE hopper dredger

The Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) has officially begun construction on the US Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) new Royal IHC-designed hopper dredger with a ceremonial steel-cutting event.

This highly-automated vessel is undergoing construction at ESG’s Allanton and Port St. Joe facilities, and is scheduled for delivery in 2027. The vessel will replace the 57-year-old dredger McFarland based in the Corps’ Philadelphia District.

The hopper was designed to be fully loaded with medium fine sand in less than 45 minutes, and with high efficiency dredge pumps the desired discharge time is almost halved.

The pumps maximize the operational efficiency and durability of the dredger and are specifically developed for the passage of large obstacles.

"Unique to this hopper dredge is the use of a semi-autonomous 'dredge assist' program that requires minimal human interaction to complete tasks," said ESG.

As part of the ready reserve fleet, MCHD requirements demand limited environmental impact. The patented overflow system limits the vessels’ ecological impact by reducing turbidity as compared to a conventional anti-turbidity valve.

The hopper dredge is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system that meets EPA Tier 4 and IMO Tier 3 standards. The propulsion arrangement consists of three main generators.