Dredging
Dredging is the use of marine based equipment to excavate material from the bottom of the sea, lakes or rivers for the purpose of enabling navigation or for the recovery of the mined materials.
This a very specialized industry requiring investment in purpose built equipment of all sizes that is designed and constructed to meet a wide range of requirements.
Dredging resources are used to:
• Deepen and maintain waterways, shipping channels, and ports.
• Create and maintain (re-nourish) beaches.
• Excavate new harbors.
• Reclaim land.
• Restore aquatic and wetland habitats.
• Excavate pipeline, cable and tunnel trenches.
US Operations
GLDD is the largest provider of dredging services in the US. The company's primary client is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the agency responsible for the construction, management and maintenance of navigable waterways in the U.S.
In recent years, state, county and some private communities have begun contracting dredging services for the purposes of beach restoration. Other customers include port authorities, the U.S. Navy, the Department of Natural Resources and operators of proprietary port facilities.
International Operations
Overseas, GLDD contracts with departments of the governments of other nations, private port developers, and project prime contractors. The company has performed dredging contracts in: Mexico, Canada, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Panama, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Columbia, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Santa Lucia, Netherland Antilles, Trinidad, Denmark, Spain, Cape Verde, Ghana, Kenya, Guinea, Egypt, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India, and Bangladesh.
Since its establishment in 1890, Great Lakes has never failed to complete a contracted project.