Keppel AmFELS announced in September its contract to build the largest high-specification Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge (TSHD) in the U.S. for Manson Construction Co.

This will be the first dredge built at Keppel AmFELS’ yard at the Port of Brownsville, adding to the growing number of shipbuilding projects and job opportunities in the South Texas region.

“We are pleased to be selected by Manson Construction Co. to build the largest U.S hopper dredge. It is a testament to the capabilities of our shipyard to build a wide variety of vessels for the Jones Act market,” said Mohamed Sahlan Bin Salleh, president of Keppel AmFELS. “This project will be supported by our highly-skilled local workforce and suppliers across the U.S. This is our first newbuild project with Manson and we look forward to supporting them as they grow their fleet of vessels.”

Once complete, the self-propelled hopper dredge, to be named Frederick Paup, will be the largest in the United States, representing Manson’s single biggest investment in its 115-year history.

The 15,000 cubic yard hopper dredge — designed in collaboration with Hockema Whalen Myers Associates, Inc. of Seattle, WA — has a length of 420-feet, breadth of 81-feet and draft of 28.5-feet. The Jones Act dredge will operate primarily in the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast of the United States.

“We are pleased to be partnering with Keppel AmFELS, due to their impressive vessel construction capabilities. Their value proposition is strengthened by our shared focus on safety,” said John Holmes, Manson Construction Co. president.

“This dredge is the culmination of years of work by our dedicated team and I am honored to bear its name,” remarked the dredge’s namesake, Manson’s chairman of the board, Frederick Paup. “We are proud that it will be U.S. built, U.S. flagged, and U.S. crewed, and will support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ mission of keeping the marine transportation highway open throughout the United States.”

Photo Courtesy of Keppel AmFELS
Keppel AmFELS announced in September its contract to build the largest high-specification Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge in the U.S. for Manson Construction Co.

 

 

 

 

 

Diagram courtesy of Manson Construction Co.
The self-propelled hopper dredge, to be named Frederick Paup, will be the largest in the U.S., representing Manson’s single biggest investment in its 115-year history.