Great Lakes Dredge & Dock to Proceed with Largest Project in its History

Rio Grande LNG’s 984-acre facility will involve the liquefaction of natural gas and its export to foreign markets. Illustration courtesy of Port of Brownsville.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation ("Great Lakes" or the “Company”), the largest provider of dredging services in the United States, has announced the receipt of Notice to Proceed to perform essential improvements to the Brownsville Ship Channel for NextDecade Corporation’s (“NextDecade”) Rio Grande LNG (“RGLNG”) project.

The work includes deepening the entrance channel to the western end of the RGLNG property also known as Phase 1 of the Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvements. This also includes the development of two ship berths and turning basin for the Rio Grande LNG facility. This project will enhance commercial navigation into and out of the Port of Brownsville and ensure the safe and reliable access of LNG carriers to the Rio Grande LNG facility. Great Lakes is expected to start this project later this year.

“This exciting milestone project is the largest undertaken by Great Lakes in its 133-year history. We look forward to working with NextDecade and other stakeholders, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Port of Brownsville, on this important improvement project that will benefit the navigation interests and allows for future development of the Port of Brownsville,” said Lasse Petterson, president and CEO of Great Lakes.  “Our proven performance and safety culture allows us to support the growth of LNG export in the U.S., which is a necessity in balancing affordability for energy and overall sustainability.”