WMA to repair CoE hopper dredge

World Marine of Alabama (WMA) was awarded a contract to dry-dock and repair the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (CoE) hopper dredge Wheeler. Since the dredge’s commissioning at Avondale (La.) Shipyard in 1982, WMA’s facility at Mobile, Ala., has dry-docked and repaired the dredge on multiple occasions, including a complete repowering in 2012. The Wheeler's hopper capacity is more than 8,200 cubic yards. The dredge is expected to arrive at the Mobile facility on Oct. 9 for the estimated 60-day project. Among some of the repairs will include dry-docking, double-bottom tank blasting and coating, bow-thruster overhaul, emergency generator replacement, pump and valve overhauls, and tail-shaft Controllable Pitch Propellers system repairs. Wheeler maintains waterway channels from Key West, Fla., to Brownsville, Texas. (Source: Work Boat 09/19/17)