The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, recently awarded contracts for dredging in harbors, located in western Michigan, on Lake Michigan.
The Corps signed two new maintenance dredging contracts, one for Manistee and Portage Lake (Outer) harbors and one for Holland (Inner) Harbor in April.
MCM Marine, Inc., of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., was awarded more than $1 million to dredge approximately 60,000 cubic yards of material from Manistee Harbor and 128,000 cubic yards of material from Portage Lake Harbor. Material will be placed south of each harbor in the near shore areas for beach nourishment at both Manistee and Portage Lake Harbors.
King Company, Inc. from Holland, Mich., was awarded almost $788,000 to dredge approximately 56,000 cubic yards of material from Holland (Inner) Harbor. Material from the site will be placed into the Holland Township upland dredge material placement site.
“ This important work will keep the shipping channels open and the Corps of Engineers is pleased to do its part to maintain these key components of the Great Lakes Navigation System ” said Lt. Col. Dennis Sugrue, district engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District . “ Marine transport of commodities is safe, economical and environmentally friendly. ”
Dredging in Manistee and Portage Lake is slated to begin on May 14 and be completed by September 21. The last time USACE dredged in Manistee Harbor was 2016, and the last time in Portage Lake Harbor was 2010.
Work is anticipated to start in Holland the week of May 7 and is expected to be completed by August 31 and the last time Holland (Inner) Harbor was dredged was 2014.
These contracts were awarded under the Corps’ Multiple Award Task Order Contract, MATOC, which the Detroit District established with 10 companies capable of dredging in the Great Lakes. The MATOC is designed to provide greater flexibility and expedite the bid solicitation-award process for dredging in Great Lakes commercial shipping channels and harbors.