Project record

Georgetown Harbor maintenance dredging

Close view of a cutterhead dredge cutting assembly used for channel dredging

Sean McBride / U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District; method context, not Georgetown mobilisation evidence

Southern Dredging has moved Georgetown Harbor's navigation-recovery contract into field work after annual federal dredging stopped in 2008. A current USCG notice names Dredge BRUNSWICK in the Bypass and Steel Mill channels, while Georgetown County says dredging began in July. The package covers about 390,000 cubic yards in the base and a 170,000-cubic-yard option routed by pipeline to the Sampit Placement Area without ocean disposal.

Project signal

Construction in United States

Current status Southern Dredging's Dredge BRUNSWICK is listed on active 24/7 work in the Bypass and Steel Mill channels through about 31 August 2026 Source confidence Confirmed

Location

United States / Americas

Segment

Port infrastructure

Status

Southern Dredging's Dredge BRUNSWICK is listed on active 24/7 work in the Bypass and Steel Mill channels through about 31 August 2026 / Confirmed

Last checked

10 August 2026

Coverage

Related sectors

Port infrastructure is the primary work classification. Related sectors connect this record to adjacent marine delivery and market coverage.

Subject index

Related subjects

These subject pages bring together related projects, technical articles, reports, and evidence methods.

Project anatomy

Contract scope and delivery roles

Client / authority
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District
Delivery parties
Southern Dredging Co. Inc.
Contract route
USACE awarded total-small-business contract W912HP26CA006 to Southern Dredging Co. Inc. on 1 June 2026 for USD 3.587 million. The May 2026 forecast's USD 5 million-USD 10 million range was a pre-award planning band rather than the final contract value.
Execution window
Georgetown County says dredging began in July 2026. USCG's week 31 notice names Dredge BRUNSWICK, lists work in the Bypass and Steel Mill channels on a 24/7 basis and gives an approximate 31 August end to the navigation-notice window; that date is not completion or acceptance.
Works package
Current contract: cutterhead dredging in the Bypass and Steel Mill channels to 12 feet plus 2 feet of allowable overdepth, with about 390,000 cubic yards in the base and 170,000 cubic yards in an option, or up to about 560,000 cubic yards project-wide. The broader environmental assessment also evaluates future operations and maintenance, deeper authorized reaches, and possible one-to-two-year cycles subject to funding; those are not current awarded quantities or achieved depths.
Marine interfaces
Long-term shoaling after annual dredging stopped in 2008; cutterhead production in constrained industrial-navigation reaches; placement in existing upland dredged-material management areas at Waccamaw Point, Waccamaw Neck, and Sampit River; no ocean disposal in the selected action; water-quality, protected-species, vessel-traffic, and completion-survey controls
Commercial evidence boundary
The active work reopens a federal maintenance pathway for industrial waterfront access serving facilities including International Paper and Liberty Steel. Southern Dredging and Dredge BRUNSWICK are now confirmed in the field, while restored channel availability still depends on option exercise, measured placement, accepted hydrography, navigation release and repeat vessel access.

Project timeline

Material developments

Dated events that changed scope, counterparties, delivery, commissioning or operating status.

Open this project in the Change Log

USCG named Dredge BRUNSWICK on active Georgetown Harbor work

The current Southeast District notice lists Southern Dredging's Dredge BRUNSWICK in the Bypass and Steel Mill channels, operating 24/7 through approximately 31 August. This confirms named-plant mobilisation and an active navigation window, not measured volume, option exercise, completion or acceptance.

Source

USACE set a July start expectation and public navigation-safety briefing

The district said dredging was expected to begin in July and finish in less than three months, with a public meeting covering vessel safety around active equipment. The release establishes an intended window, not contractor disclosure, notice to proceed, mobilisation, or production.

Source

USACE awarded Southern Dredging the USD 3.587 million contract

SAM.gov identifies Southern Dredging as the awardee under contract W912HP26CA006. The award covers about 390,000 cubic yards in the base and a 170,000-cubic-yard option in the Bypass and Steel Mill channels, or up to about 560,000 cubic yards; it does not establish notice to proceed or physical start.

Source

South Carolina issued Clean Water Act Section 401 certification

The certification closed a key water-quality approval step for the selected cutterhead-and-upland-placement action. Construction award and restored navigation remained outside the certification.

Source

USACE opened draft SEA and FONSI public review

The review established the environmental decision route for renewed operations and maintenance after the long dredging gap. It preceded the final February 2026 assessment, water-quality certification, and contract award.

Source

Evidence gap

What remains unverified

Outstanding evidence

  • Dredge BRUNSWICK work location, production continuity and any change to the 31 August notice window
  • Measured 390,000-cubic-yard base quantity and authorization of the 170,000-cubic-yard option
  • Use and performance of the existing Waccamaw Point, Waccamaw Neck, and Sampit River upland placement areas
  • Water-quality certification, protected-species controls, and environmental-compliance reporting
  • Completion hydrography, accepted channel depth, navigation release, and demonstrated industrial access

Related records 2

Reporting status

Construction, confirmed confidence

Last checked 10 August 2026 across 10 cited sources. The dated timeline above carries the project events.

Last checked 10 August 2026 Cited sources 10

Sources and related records

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Source collections

Project sources 10