News Summary
Virginia Beach has received a new Ellicott Series 1870 G2 Dragon dredge named Sandpiper, enhancing dredging capacity with upgraded hydraulics and EPA-compliant engines. This investment replaces the aging Rudee Inlet II and supports ongoing waterway maintenance. A $25.5 million contract with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock ensures continued dredging in multiple locations, with funding from multi-year budgets managed by the U.S. Army Corps. Challenges with beach sand quality also affect replenishment projects. The overall focus is on infrastructure, environmental management, and supporting tourism and recreation.
Virginia Beach has welcomed the delivery of a new Ellicott® Series 1870 G2 Dragon® dredge, named the Sandpiper, significantly enhancing the city’s dredging capacity. This state-of-the-art dredge combines the trusted design of Ellicott’s original 1870 series with modern upgrades, making it a vital addition to ongoing maintenance efforts in local waterways.
The Sandpiper is equipped with upgraded hydraulics, advanced operator controls, and the latest EPA-compliant engines. This improved technology aims to optimize the dredging process, ensuring efficiency and environmental compliance. The delivery of Sandpiper is a result of extensive teamwork between Ellicott’s facilities in Baltimore and New Richmond, showcasing a committed company-wide effort to complete this significant project.
This new dredge will replace the aging Ellicott 970, also known as Rudee Inlet II, which has been operational since 1983. The decision to upgrade came as part of a broader plan to enhance the maintenance dredging practices in Virginia Beach.
To facilitate ongoing dredging operations in the city, a $25,485,000 firm-fixed-price contract was awarded to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. for maintenance dredging tasks throughout various locations including Kingfisher Canal Northern Marina Basin, Skua Canal, Curlew Canal, and others. The work from this contract has an anticipated completion date of April 15, 2026. The project was publicly solicited and attracted two competitive bids, demonstrating a transparent procurement process.
Funding for this dredging contract has been undertaken through the civil operation and maintenance budgets allocated for multiple fiscal years from 2015 to 2025. This careful financial planning underscores the long-term commitment towards maintaining the waterways in Virginia Beach. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Baltimore is managing the contracting activity related to this project.
In a related context, Virginia Beach is also facing challenges with its beach replenishment project, which has been temporarily halted due to issues concerning the quality of dredged sand. The contractor has cited that the sand lacks the necessary consistency and color, affecting its suitability for beach restoration. Approximately 950,000 cubic yards of sand is planned for placement between 15th and 45th streets as part of the replenishment initiative, which is estimated to cost $20 million. The federal government is contributing $13 million while Virginia Beach is responsible for the remaining $7 million.
City staff is regularly updated on the progress and conditions of the beach replenishment project, with ongoing evaluations to test for alternative beach-quality sand particularly within the navigational channel. This proactive approach demonstrates the city’s commitment to ensuring the quality and sustainability of its public beaches.
In addition to dredging activities in Virginia Beach, other coastal projects are also underway in different locations. This includes a harbor dredging project in Michigan aiming to restore navigable depths ahead of the 2026 shipping season, and dredging works at Jurien Bay Boat Harbour in Western Australia to ensure the area maintains functionality and water quality for local fishing and tourism. Crews are preparing for a Coastal Storm Risk Management dredging project in Carolina Beach, NC, further indicating the focus on maintaining and enhancing waterway safety across various regions.
The recent advancements and ongoing projects showcase a comprehensive strategy aimed at upgrading and maintaining vital dredging infrastructure, which is not only essential for environmental management but also for supporting key local economic activities such as tourism and recreation.
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Additional Resources
- Dredging Today: Ellicott Delivers New Dredger to City of Virginia Beach
- Wikipedia: Virginia Beach
- WTVR: Virginia Beach Oceanfront Beach Replenishment
- Google Search: Virginia Beach beach replenishment
- Pilot Online: Beach Replenishment Paused
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Virginia Beach
- WAVY: Virginia Beach Begins Dredging at Rudee Inlet
- Google News: Virginia Beach dredging
- DredgeWire: GLDD Wins $25.4 Million Maintenance Dredging Project
- Google Scholar: Virginia Beach dredging
Author: STAFF HERE VIRGINIA BEACH WRITER
VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER The VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HEREVirginiaBeach.com, your trusted source for actionable local news and information in Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach City, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with comprehensive coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—supported by years of expert reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while offering top reporting on high-profile events like the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, East Coast Surfing Championship, and military homecoming celebrations, alongside key organizations such as the Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Beach Convention Center, and Oceana Naval Air Station, plus leading businesses in tourism and defense like Busch Gardens and Northrop Grumman, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREWilliamsburg.com, providing credible, in-depth insights into Virginia's vibrant landscape. HERE Virginia Beach HERE Williamsburg
