Ensuring the continuous availability of critical marine assets for deep-draft channel maintenance, Manson Construction Co. has been awarded a $13,322,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The agreement tasks the contractor with furnishing one fully crewed and equipped self-propelled trailing suction hopper dredge to support navigation missions, carrying a total cumulative face value of $26,050,500.

Contract Details: At A Glance

District Context & Mission Impact

This critical maritime award is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District. The New Orleans District manages some of the highest-tonnage shipping channels in the United States, including the lower Mississippi River. Maintaining target depths in these corridors is vital to national and global supply chains. Operations in Venice, Louisiana, situated near the base of the bird’s foot delta, face constant challenges from heavy sediment shoaling. By securing a fully crewed, self-propelled trailing suction hopper dredge, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ensures rapid response capabilities to clear rapidly forming shoals, keeping deep-draft commercial vessels moving safely without costly transit delays.

Contractor Spotlight & Industry Context

Based out of Seattle, Washington, Manson Construction Co. is a prominent player in the heavy civil marine construction and dredging industries, operating a massive fleet of specialized vessels across U.S. coasts. Trailing suction hopper dredges are highly specialized vessels that vacuum sediment from the channel floor into an onboard hopper before transiting to drop sites. Supplying a fully equipped and crewed vessel requires immense logistical and operational expertise. This contract highlights how the federal government leverages the specialized technical capabilities of the commercial maritime industry to sustain critical public infrastructure and safeguard navigable waterways.