By the Numbers: FY2025 Dredging Stats Released

The Dredging Contractors of America (DCA) is pleased to report another strong year for the U.S. dredging industry in Fiscal Year 2025, with $1.8 billion in federal dredging awards executed entirely by the American-owned, American-crewed, American-built Jones Act dredging fleet.

According to Michael Gerhardt’s U.S. Dredging Report, FY2025 marked a transition year. While the prior year featured major deepening and widening projects in ports such as Norfolk, Brazos Island, Sabine, and Mobile, FY2025 saw fewer large-scale channel expansions. Instead, the industry’s core maintenance dredging market remained steady and reliable, ensuring the continued safe and efficient movement of commerce across the nation’s waterways.

At the same time, beneficial use of dredged material continued its upward trajectory, reinforcing dredging’s dual role in navigation and environmental stewardship. A record 74% of projects incorporated beneficial use, supporting coastal restoration, wetland creation, and island rebuilding efforts. Regions such as New Orleans led in large-scale habitat creation, while Baltimore continued its long-standing work restoring islands in the Chesapeake Bay—demonstrating how American dredging directly contributes to climate resilience and ecosystem restoration.
Speaking before the start of the Port of the Future Conference, William Doyle, Chief Executive Officer of the Dredging Contractors of America commented:

“Every dollar