Steel Cutting for New Medium Class Hopper Dredge
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers joined contractors Eastern Shipbuilding Group and Royal IHC on April 4, 2025, in Panama City, FL for a steel cutting ceremony, kicking off construction of a Medium Class Hopper Dredge to replace the Dredge McFARLAND of the Army Corps’ Philadelphia. The first cuts were made by a CNC Plasma Arc Burning Machine on an 8’ x 50’ x 5/8” sheet of ABS-14 raw steel plate from which templated pieces were then punched out individually.

Download Image: Full Size (0.73 MB)
Photo by: USACE Philadelphia District |  VIRIN: 250404-O-XP172-3214.JPG