Conrad Begins Building GLDD's New Multi-Cats

July 22, 2021

Conrad Shipyard said it has started building two Damen-designed Multi-Cat vessels scheduled to be delivered to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company (GLDD) in the third and fourth quarters of 2022. A steel cutting ceremony was held at Conrad's Morgan City, La. shipyard.

The two identical vessels are being built under a licensing agreement with the Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards Group. They will be the first of their type built in the U.S. 

Dan Conrad, Conrad Sr VP; Dan Gaiennie,
Dan Conrad, Conrad Sr VP; Dan Gaiennie, GLDD Director Engineering New Builds; Brad Breaux, Conrad Program Manager; Vidar Lindmoen, GLDD New Build Project/Program Director; David Johanson, GLDD Sr Vice President Projects & Area Operations Gulf of Mexico; Col. Stephen F. Murphy, USACE; Brett Wolbrink, Conrad Chief Operating Officer; Francisco Bermudez, GLDD Program Manager; and Mark Wingate – USACE (Photo: Conrad Shipyard)

Each Damen Multi Cat 3013 measure 98.92’ in length and will be powered by three Caterpillar C32 TTA engines capable of meeting speeds of 10.2 knots. Equipped with large winches and deck cranes, the vessels will have maximum bollard pull of 31.75 short tons

David Johanson, GLDD’s Senior Vice President of Project and Area Operations for the Gulf of Mexico, said the new vessels eliminate the need for assorted floating support equipment such as derrick barges, towboats and anchor barges. “The Multi-cats also significantly increase operational safety – enabling hose and pipe maintenance works to take place securely on deck reducing the risk of man-overboards compared to standard industry methods utilizing floating pontoons. This will improve our operational efficiency.”

Related News

Sixty-Eight U.S. Bridges At Risk from Vessel Strike Ferguson Marine Appoints New CEO EU Shipowners Want Maritime Included in Sustainable Transport Investment Plan Yemen's Houthis to Continue Attacks on Isreal-Linked Shipping in Red Sea Hanwha Aims to Buy a Piece of Austal