Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that on, September 11, 2020, Eastern conducted the keel laying for R.B. WEEKS, ESG Hull 258, a new Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger for Weeks Marine, Inc. (WMI), following the contract signing five (5) months earlier. Steel Cutting commenced on August 19, 2020. This new US Flag dredge is be constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Shipyard Panama City, Florida. This is the second Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge project for Weeks Marine. The MAGDALEN, ESG Hull 256 was delivered back in December of 2017. This reflects Eastern’s commitment to building complex dredge vessels for the US Jones Act maritime industry and secures its long history of being a successful diversified U.S. Shipbuilder supporting new and repeat customers. Attending from Weeks Marine was Rich Weeks – (CEO) R S Weeks, Eric Ellefsen – President, Steve Chatry – Senior VP Division Manager and Chris Hynes – Chief Operating Officer.
The R.B. WEEKS, is named in honor of Richard B. Weeks, a co-founder of Weeks Marine and married to Magdalen Weeks, the namesake of the previous sister vessel MAGDALEN (ESG Hull 256). This new state of the art Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge is scheduled for delivery early 2023.
The Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge features the following characteristics:
Vessel Name: R.B. WEEKS
ESG Hull#: 258
Dimensions (Overall): 356’ x 79’-6”’x 27’-3”
Designer: Royal IHC
Main Engines: (2) GE 16V250 MDC IMOIII/EPA Tier 4
Main Propulsion: (2) Wartsila CPP in Nozzles
Main Gears: (2) Siemens (Flender)
Bow Thruster: (1) AC 730kW VFD Fixed Pitch Tunnel Unit
Main Shaft Generators: (2) x 3400ekW
Auxiliary Generator: (1) GE 6L250 MDC (1423ekW) IMOIII/EPA Tier 4
Emergency Generator: (1) Caterpillar C18 (430ekW) IMOII/EPA Tier 3
Classification: Lloyd’s Register, X100A1 Hopper Dredger, XLMC, UMS
Flag & Regulatory: USA, USCG
Hopper Capacity: 8,550 yd³ (6540m3)
Accommodations: 26 Person
Eastern is proud to be part of the Weeks Marine, Inc’s. Team, building another dredge vessel, investing in the maritime future of America, and constructing this state-of-the-art “Jones Act” vessel to meet our Country’s growing needs.
