Seatrium Delivers Hopper Dredge To Manson

Brownsville, Texas-based Seatrium AmFELS has delivered the hopper dredge Frederick Paup to Manson Construction Company. The dredge departed Brownsville on January 27, bound for Mobile, Ala.

In announcing the dredge’s delivery and departure for Mobile, Manson called the Frederick Paup the company’s “single biggest investment since its founding in 1905.” With its delivery, the Frederick Paup, designed in collaboration with Hockema Whalen Myers Associates Inc. of Seattle, now ranks as the largest self-propelled hopper dredge in the United States. It has a hopper capacity of 15,150 cubic yards.

“Over the last five-plus years, we have had an outstanding group of Manson people and key business partners working together to make this dredge a reality,” Manson President and CEO Jim McNally said. “I am very proud of those people and this dredge.”

The dredge measures 420 feet by 81 feet. Propelling the Frederick Paup are a trio of azimuthing stern drives and a pair of bow thrusters, with a total of 25,000 hp. According to Seatrium, the Frederick Paup features Tier 4 diesel-electric engines and a hull design that reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency.

“Frederick Paup will play a vital role in the nation’s navigation channels, beach nourishment and coastal restoration projects, supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ goal of achieving 70 percent beneficial use of dredged material by 2030,” the shipyard said in announcing delivery of the dredge. “Our heartiest congratulations to the Seatrium and Manson Construction Company teams for delivering this milestone project.”

In Mobile, the Frederick Paup will perform maintenance dredging along the Mobile Bay ship channel.

Frederick Paup, the vessel’s namesake, serves as Manson’s chairman of the board. He said the new dredge is emblematic of Manson’s commitment to the U.S. market.

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

Featured image caption: An architectural drawing of the hopper dredge Frederick Paup by naval architect Hockema Group.