DREDGING & INFRASTRUCTUREDIGGING DEEP FOR GOOD NEWSCredit: Van OordDREDGING FIRMS LOOK AHEAD TO MORE BUSINESS, HERE AND ACROSS THE BIG POND. ALONG THE WAY, MOTHER NATURE AND GOOD BUSINESS PLANNING WILL BOTH HELP.BY BARRY PARKERn the waning days of 2016, the outlook brightened dra- quee projects at Port Everglades (with a Federal contribution matically for the big U.S. dredging contractors. Just be- of $229.8 million) and Charleston, SC (with $231.2 million Ifore Congress dispersed for the Holidays, then-President Federal cost). Hence, for the domestic dredging industry, and Obama signed a pivotal piece of legislation – the Water Infra- the blue water ports they serve, the bill was good news indeed. structure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, S612. Key William Hanson, Washington, DC-based Vice President at aspects of the bill: Great Lakes Dredge and Dock, the largest dredging contractor • Authorized needed investment in America’s ports, in the States,) explained to MLPro, “WIIN allows projects to channels, locks, dams, and other infrastructure that become eligible for funding. We look to WRDA bills to set supports the maritime and waterways transportation the stage for future projects, but to the appropriations budget system and provides