GREAT EGG HARBOR, NJ—Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation has been awarded contracts for projects along the New Jersey shore with an aggregate value of over $185 million, with additional options still to be awarded valued at more than $25 million, and a deepening project in the Arthur Kill Channel located between New Jersey and Staten Island valued at more than $25 million. Great Lakes isthe largest provider of dredging services in the United States and the only US dredging company with significant international operations.

The New Jersey shore projects will provide risk reduction to coastal regions and reduce impacts from future storms. The projects are being funded by the Super Storm Sandy Supplemental Appropriations Bill that was signed into law in the wake of 2012's Superstorm Sandy, one of the costliest coastal storms in United States history.

“Super Storm Sandy caused great destruction along the East Coast of the United States. The berms and dunes that Great Lakes will build will help to fortify the coast, protect the communities along the New Jersey shore and reduce future damage,” says David Simonelli, Great Lakes' president of Dredging Operations. “Throughout Great Lakes' 124 year history, we have completed dozens of projects along the coast of New Jersey and are pleased to be working under contract with the Philadelphia District Corps of Engineers to perform this critical work. We acknowledge the important role that the State of New Jersey has played in facilitating and funding these projects. We are also hopeful that the attention on coastal damage from Superstorm Sandy will bring a national, long term commitment to the need for investment in coastal protection. Robust coastal protection systems that are constructed appropriately and consistently maintained are the best solution to lessen the impact of coastal storms,”

The Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Townsends Inlet, NJ award, valued at $58 million with potential options still to be awarded of $10 million, includes dredging 1.6 million cubic yards of sand from an offshore borrow area and pumping it to shore to create berms and dunes along 10 miles of beach.

This stretch of the coast includes Ocean City, Upper Township and Sea Isle City. The second award, Long Beach Island / Barnegat Inlet to Little Egg Harbor Inlet, includes dredging more than eight million cubic yards of sand to build berms and dunes across a 12.5 mile stretch of coastline. This award is valued at $128 million, with more than $15 million in options still to be awarded. Great Lakes will mobilize multiple dredging vessels to complete these projects.

The $25 million award for the Arthur Kill Channel Navigation project involves deepening the channel between Staten Island, New York and Union County, New Jersey from its existing 35 feet depth to a depth of 40 feet. The work involves the excavation of silt, glacial till and red shale rock requiring subaqueous drilling and blasting.

“The Arthur Kill Navigation Channel is critical for vessels calling at the Port of New York and New Jersey. We look forward to working with the New York District Corps of Engineers and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as it continues to execute its master plan to deepen the port to 50 feet.”

The deepening of the Arthur Kill Channel will be the final milestone achieved in the overall Harbor Deepening Project. Great Lakes has been awarded or participated in more than 14 projects since the plan to deepen the Port of New York and New Jersey to 50 feet began. The company has played a major role in the development of the Port of New York and New Jersey since 1910.