PROJECTS
Land Reclamation
Pier J
Pier 400
Diyar Al Muharraq
Durrat Al Bahrain
World Class Projects Delivered
World Class Projects Delivered
Subsea rock installation is the most effective means of providing long-term scour protection. It is required to stabilize the sea floor around marine structures from the momentous kinetic energy of the ocean eroding away critical structural foundation base. With the first, and only, Jones-Act compliant subsea rock installation vessel under construction at the Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, GLDD is helping to strengthen the foundations for U.S. offshore energies.
Among its leading-edge technologies to better protect the environment, the vessel will have EPA Tier 4-compliant engines, a battery energy storage system to shave peak loads, and plug-in capability to obtain shore power while loading. Additionally, it will be able to run on biofuel, reducing the ship’s CO2, SOx and overall hydrocarbon footprint and will be equipped with active emissions control technology to mitigate NOx emissions.
Main dimensions of the vessel are:
World Class Projects Delivered
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, in joint venture with VanOord, successfully completed rock installation work supporting the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project, a landmark renewable energy development off the coast of New York.
Empire Wind 1 is an 810 MW offshore wind farm located 15–30 miles southeast of Long Island, comprising 54 wind turbines. The project was designed to deliver renewable energy to approximately 700,000 households, making it a significant contributor to New York State’s clean energy goals.
Under a 2022 agreement with Empire Wind, the consortium executed rock installation activities for the Empire Wind 1 project as planned.
For this work, GLDD and VanOord mobilized the subsea rock installation vessels Bravenes and Acadia, delivering precision placement capability.
The scope of work included the placement of approximately 105,000 metric tons of rock material to protect subsea infrastructure and cable systems, ensuring long-term stability and durability under offshore conditions.
Through this joint venture, GLDD and VanOord played an essential role in constructing resilient offshore wind infrastructure that supports the delivery of clean, renewable energy to New York.
Empire Wind 1, Export Cable Rock Protection at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company supported the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind development by completing critical export cable protection work at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT), helping safeguard the cables that will carry clean energy from the wind farm back to New York.
Empire Wind 1 is expected to deliver renewable energy to approximately 700,000 households, making the export cable system a vital link between offshore generation and onshore power distribution.
The export cables were installed in a pre-dredged trench along the SBMT approach and landing area. GLDD’s scope focused on stabilizing and protecting the cables by placing a precisely engineered, two-layer rock system. The first layer, known as Cable Top, was installed directly over and around the cable to provide foundational protection and support. A second layer, Cover Stone, was then placed to provide long-term armoring and resistance to currents, vessel activity, and seabed movement.
At the slope landing area, where the export cables transition and are exposed to increased hydraulic forces, GLDD installed an additional armor rock layer on top of the standard two-layer system, delivering enhanced protection in the most vulnerable section of the alignment.
In total, GLDD installed 47,889 metric tons of rock to meet the project’s design requirements.
In addition to cable protection, GLDD performed restoration work in the southeast corner of the project footprint, where a designated tidal restoration area required the seabed to be returned to its original condition. This restoration was completed by rebuilding a mound using cover stone, chock stone, and a sand cap, designed to mimic the surrounding seabed and reinstate the area as it existed prior to dredging.
GLDD executed the work between May and October, using Carver’s 2000 HP tending tug and the highly capable Carver 2000 Series E-Crane, operating from a spudded barge. This equipment package provided the stability and placement control required for accurate rock installation in a confined marine terminal environment.
Through careful placement, engineered layering, and environmental restoration, GLDD helped ensure Empire Wind 1’s export cables are protected for long-term service, supporting the delivery of renewable offshore wind energy to New York.
Over a Century of Experience
Founded in Illinois in 1890, GLDD has a long history with Chicago’s shore infrastructure and river lock system. The company now operates on every domestic coastline and throughout many inland U.S. waterways, and has operated in several foreign markets, throughout the Middle East, Latin America, and other regions around the globe. In addition, GLDD has 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 safety and environmental protection and enhancement.
Build and protect the foundations of offshore
energy and critical subsea infrastructure.
The county, in partnership with local municipalities, has embarked on a plan to restore and preserve the fragile coastline while establishing a strong defense against increasingly powerful storms to protect property and infrastructure in the coastal communities.
The county, in partnership with local municipalities, has embarked on a plan to restore and preserve the fragile coastline while establishing a strong defense against increasingly powerful storms to protect property and infrastructure in the coastal communities.
Offshore energy relies on stable, protected subsea infrastructure. Wind turbine foundations, power and data cables, and pipelines operate under constant pressure from ocean forces, seabed movement, extreme weather and external impact.
Without long-term seabed stabilization and protection, these critical systems face increased risk, downtime and costly disruption. As offshore energy development accelerates, the integrity of the infrastructure below the surface becomes essential to long-term reliability and economic stability.
Subsea rock installation is the most effective means of providing long-term scour protection. It is required to stabilize the sea floor around marine structures from the momentous kinetic energy of the ocean eroding away critical structural foundation base. With the first, and only, Jones-Act compliant subsea rock installation vessel under construction at the Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, GLDD is helping to strengthen the foundations for U.S. offshore energies.
