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 District. This marked the official start of construction on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ first new seagoing deep draft hopper dredge in more than 40 years.