An artist’s rendering of the Philadelphia District’s forthcoming medium class hopper dredge on the Delaware River with Philadelphia in the background. (Rendering courtesy of the Philadelphia Engineer District and the Corps’ Marine Design Center)
Dredging

New Corps Dredge To be Named After Donnelly

July 3, 2025 By Waterways Journal

The new medium class hopper dredge replacing the Dredge McFarland will be named in honor of the late Ray Donnelly.

The late Ray Donnelly, who retired as chief of resource management for the Philadelphia Engineer District in 2020. The Philadelphia District’s forthcoming medium class hopper dredge will be named in honor of Donnelly. (Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Engineer District and the Corps’ Marine Design Center)
The late Ray Donnelly, who retired as chief of resource management for the Philadelphia Engineer District in 2020. The Philadelphia District’s forthcoming medium class hopper dredge will be named in honor of Donnelly. (Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Engineer District and the Corps’ Marine Design Center)

The Philadelphia Engineer District and the Corps’ Marine Design Center made the announcement June 20.

Donnelly retired as chief of resource management for the Philadelphia Engineer District in 2020. He served both the U.S. Navy and the Corps of Engineers during a 44-year career and was a key leader in the Corps’ resource management community, according to a news release from the Corps of Engineers. As part of his work, he conducted a detailed analysis of the four Corps-owned dredges and the impacts of recapitalization on the national civil works program. Additionally, Donnelly was instrumental in the financial management of the McFarland. Donnelly was awarded the de Fleury Medal (Bronze Order) in recognition of his career.

In April, construction of the new dredge commenced with a steel-cutting ceremony at Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s Allanton Shipyard in Panama City, Fla. Since then, modular construction has been progressing steadily with unit builds underway and fabrication and assembly of various key components, the Corps said. Work is being carried out in close coordination with the Corps’ Marine Design Center, Eastern Shipbuilding Group and Royal  The new medium class hopper dredge will play an important role in enabling the Corps to deliver its navigation mission and provide for safe, reliable, effective and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation for national security, commerce and recreation, the Corps said. The Dredge Donnelly is estimated to be placed into service in 2027. It replaces the McFarland, one of four oceangoing hopper dredges owned and operated by the Corps of Engineers.

The new dredge will be 320 feet long with a 72-foot beam and a hull depth of 28 feet. The Donnelly will draft 11 feet, 3 inches with an empty hopper and 25 feet, 6 inches with a full hopper. The dredge will have a maximum hopper capacity of 6,000 cubic yards and a maximum dredge depth of 65 feet (with its suction tubes at 45 degrees).

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Featured photo caption: An artist’s rendering of the Philadelphia District’s forthcoming medium class hopper dredge on the Delaware River with Philadelphia in the background. (Rendering courtesy of the Philadelphia Engineer District and the Corps’ Marine Design Center)

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