Smith Marine Towing Corporation (SMT) announced today a contract award to assist Callan Marine and North America’s largest dredge the General MacArthur on the North Breton Island Restoration project.
According to SMT, the Smith Privateer will tow the dredge to location and assist in the set up. The vessel will later be replaced by M/V Smith Invader as lead dredge tending tug responsible for towing, anchor running, and transfers.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) awarded the $54 million North Breton Island Restoration Project to Callan Marine earlier this year.
Funding for the works comes from the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment oil spill global settlement reached in 2016.
Located northeast of Venice, La., the restoration project includes dredging 5.7 million cubic yards of material in order to restore the barrier shoreline through beach, dune, and marsh fill placement.
Officials expect the completion of this restoration project in spring of 2021.