OUR HISTORY

Over a Century of Experience

Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, GLDD has a long history with Chicago’s shore infrastructure and river lock system. The company has since expanded and now operates on every domestic coastline, throughout many inland U.S. waterways, and in several foreign markets, most notably Bahrain, Qatar, and Brazil. In addition, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock possesses a fleet of smaller vessels that specialize in dredging challenging shallow water environments, such as lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and inland channels.

Since its founding, GLDD has been a leader in the building and maintenance of the nation’s navigation system, the protection of shorelines, the restoration of sensitive habitats, and the creation of critical aquatic infrastructure. We are committed to delivering innovative and high-quality workmanship to our clients while executing every project with a focus on employee safety.

The Beginning - 1
The Beginning
Founded in 1890, as the partnership of William A. Lydon & Fred C. Drews’, Lydon & Drews’ first project was the construction of an offshore tunnel to extend the water intake at Chicago Avenue to a new water crib farther from the shore. The company experienced tremendous expansion in the 1890s, moving from its Chicago base to open satellite operations in the major cities on the Great Lakes. Projects at the time included the shoreline structures for Chicago’s Columbian Expedition in 1892, as well as the foundations for what is currently Navy Pier.
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The Beginning - 2

In 1905, the company changed its name to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company. The company’s fleet expanded to include thirteen dredges and ten tugboats. Projects involving dredging, pile-driving, construction of foundations, bridges, breakwaters and lighthouses were completed in Chicago and throughout the Great Lakes. By 1920, Great Lakes was operating in Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and other east coast locations. Accordingly, an Atlantic Division office was established in the Whitehall Building in downtown Manhattan.

The Beginning 3

Between 1900 and 1950, the company completed a number of significant projects, including:

- A massive water intake for U.S. Steel’s then new Gary (Indiana) works.
Construction of the Sabin Lock at Sault Ste. Marie.
- Straightening a section of the South Branch of the Chicago River.
- Shoreline reclamation in Chicago for the Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Soldier Field, Northerly Island (built to house the 1933 World’s Fair, later the site of Meigs Field) and the Field Museum as well as landfill for Lincoln Park, Jackson Park, Grant Park and Chicago’s nine-mile shoreline.
- Construction of the foundations and approaches to Chicago’s Michigan Avenue Bridge, the Outer Drive Bridge on Lake Shore Drive, and sections of the lower level of Wacker Drive.

Early Years - 1
Early Years

During World War II, Great Lakes was awarded the coveted Navy E-Flag for its work building the large MacArthur Lock at Sault Ste. Marie—a facility named by the Corps of Engineers as the most reliable lock on the Great Lakes.

Early Years - 2

After the war, the company participated in extensive oil-related dredging in the Gulf of Mexico, in addition to numerous bridge and other marine construction projects around the country. In the 1970s, the Corps of Engineers’ fleet was reduced to a size considered necessary for emergencies and national defense. A robust private dredging sector took its place. Great Lakes’ president at the time, John A. Downs, was instrumental in promoting legislation that ultimately mandated the reduction of the Corps fleet.

Early Years - 3

At the same time, the company expanded its operations internationally, venturing into the Middle East, South America, and Africa. Also during this period, beach nourishment was added to the company’s operational repertoire.

The Expansion - 1
The Expansion

In 1986, the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (the so-called “Deep Ports” legislation) improved U.S. transportation infrastructure by deepening major U.S. ports—much of which was performed by the company. In 1990, following up on its successful project to create the harbor at Jebel Ali in Dubai, Great Lakes launched a renewed international marketing effort by establishing a dredging division in the Middle East.

The Expansion - 2

In 1993, the overseas marketing program was awarded the reclamation and harbor infrastructure projects in Doha, Qatar, followed by other successful projects in Europe, Africa, Mexico, and South America. The company also performed excavation and reclamation for the construction of the Øresund Fixed Link—the bridge/island/tunnel system that joins Denmark and Sweden.

Recent Years - 1
Recent Years

In 2000, Great Lakes successfully completed a myriad of high-profile projects with work finishing up on such contracts as the Oresund Fixed Link in Denmark; Suez Canal in Egypt; and the expansion of two California terminals, Pier 400 in Los Angeles Harbor and Pier J in the Port of Long Beach.

Recent Years - 2

Over the next five years, Great Lakes was the first contractor to go to work after the preliminary hostilities in Iraq, performing needed harbor maintenance work at the Port of Umm Qasr to enable the entry of humanitarian cargo. The company has also completed extensive dredging for the deepening of San Juan Harbor in Puerto Rico, the dredging of Umm Qasr Port in Iraq, and reclamation work at Khalifa bin Salman in Bahrain.

Recent Years - 3

More recently, GLDD has constructed new land masses for the resort cities of Diyar al Muharraq and Durrat al Bahrain, among many other large-scale development projects in Bahrain. When the need for emergency dredging services arose in response to the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes was prominent among those answering the call.

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The Ellis Island

The Ellis Island recently commenced dredging operations on Phase 1 of the MSCIP Comprehensive Barrier Island Restoration Plan in the U. S. Gulf of Mexico offshore of Gulfport Mississippi. With a 15,000 cubic yard capacity Ellis Island is the largest hopper dredge in the U. S..
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Our Projects

> Overview

>  Ports & Harbors

>  Coastal Protection

>  Coastal Restoration

>  International

>  Inland Dredging

Diyaar Before and After images

Before & After
Transformations

See the dramatic transformations of some of our largest projects.  Read more

Safety

In 2006, GLDD adopted an Incident-and Injury-Free (IIF®) safety management program that has been integrated into all aspects of the company’s culture. The company’s commitment to the IIF® culture promotes a work environment where employee safety is paramount.

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Investor Relations

NASDAQ: GLDD

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD) is North America’s dredging industry leader, the largest provider of marine dredging, and the only U.S. company with substantial overseas operations. 

Learn more about our financial and stock information. Click here.

Annual Report

 

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