There is currently pent-up demand for dredging services in most of the nation's ports the US Army Corps of Engineers has reported that nearly one-third of commercial vessels at US ports are constrained due to inadequate channel depths. Port and harbor operators represent the largest downstream market because dredging services are essential to maintaining safe and efficient navigation channels in ports and harbors. Most of the 250 firms and 850 dredges operate in inland waterways and do not service coastal areas. A few interesting market comments from these sites include: There are several marine dredging organizations and magazines for research, along with multiple market research firms offering their wares, for example, and. According to Verified Market Research, global expenditures for various dredging projects are estimated to be around $10.4 billion in 2018, with the US estimates of $2 to $3 billion. Projects are usually separated into the marine port expansion and maintenance, coastal restoration and protection, and inland river restoration and protection. Marine dredging is the process of enhancing or preserving the navigability of ocean and river waterways, through the removal or replenishment of soil, sand or rock, including the protection of coastal shorelines. The marine dredging industry uses highly specialized ships, such as the hopper pictured above. However, after further research, I decided to take a speculative initial position in the largest US marine dredging company - Great Lakes Dredge and Dock ( NASDAQ: GLDD). Like me, investors would be forgiven if they had not thought of marine dredging as a potential equity investment industry. While the concept of marine dredging pre-dates the diversion of the Nile to build the Pyramids, it is not usually an industry that gets much publicity or investor attention. This article was selected to be shared with PRO+ subscribers - find out more here.

Great lakes dredge and dock projects