What Is a Dredge & What Does It Do?
A dredge, or dredger, is a specialized vessel equipped to remove sediment from the bottoms of waterways, ports, and harbors. This sediment, made up of sand, silt, gravel, rocks, debris, and even plant or animal matter, is constantly shifting due to currents, tides, and vessel traffic. When too much builds up, it can make waterways too shallow for ships to pass safely through. That’s where dredging comes in.
There are different types of dredges—cutter suction dredges, trailing suction hopper dredges, clamshell/bucket dredges, backhoe dredges, hydraulic dredges, and auger dredges—but all perform similar functions.
Dredging typically involves four key steps:
- Loosening the material on the waterbed
- Collecting it with tools like suction arms or buckets
- Transporting the material elsewhere
- Depositing or repurposing it at a new location
Dredging is essential to global commerce and coastal protection. It allows ports to stay open and new construction—like piers, dams, and ship channels—to be built. Dredged material may also be used for environmental restoration, beach rebuilding, or, in some cases, to remove toxic contaminants from the seabed.
Dredge Operations in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Across Louisiana, dredges operate in some of the most heavily trafficked and environmentally sensitive waterways in North America. Below are the primary areas where dredging activity is most concentrated:
Mississippi River Ship Channel (MRSC)
Stretching from the Port of Greater Baton Rouge down to the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River is the backbone of Louisiana’s maritime economy—and one of the most heavily dredged waterways in the world. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversees maintenance of the Lower Mississippi’s main channel and many of its ports and harbors. Supporting this effort are major dredging contractors like the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company (GLDD), whose fleet performs ongoing operations to keep the river navigable year-round.
Each spring, as runoff swells the river and deposits shoal material, cutter suction and hopper dredges are dispatched to restore safe navigation depths—especially in areas like the Southwest Pass. These dredges don’t just maintain shipping lanes; they also benefit the environment. In many projects, removed sediment is repurposed to rebuild eroded marshes and form storm surge buffers near inhabited areas, providing added protection against hurricanes and tropical storms.
For Louisiana dredge workers working along this stretch—from Baton Rouge to the Gulf—conditions can be volatile. Fast currents, shifting beds, aging vessels and equipment, and 24/7 operations create high-risk environments where even one misstep can result in serious injuries or fatalities.
Calcasieu Ship Channel & Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
Western Louisiana’s Calcasieu Ship Channel (serving Lake Charles) receives frequent cutterhead and hopper dredging to maintain depths up to 40 feet, serving refineries and LNG terminals. Along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, including locks, canals, and the critical GIWW West Closure Complex near Plaquemines Parish, dredges and beneficial-use operations help manage water flow and protect wetlands. Dredge workers operating in this zone may face heightened risks of exposure to chemical hazards, marine traffic, and unpredictable sediment conditions.
Coastal Restoration Zones (Atchafalaya, Wax Lake & Pontchartrain Basin)
Dredging in Louisiana is also central to ongoing land restoration. In the Atchafalaya and Wax Lake deltas, dredges pump sediment to rebuild land lost to erosion and sea level rise. In the Atchafalaya Basin, approximately 5 million cubic yards of material will be dredged in 2025 alone using hydraulic (cutterhead) techniques. Near Lake Pontchartrain and Slidell, dredge projects help reinforce storm buffers and restore marshes. These environmentally sensitive projects require precise execution under challenging conditions, creating another layer of potential risk for dredge crew members.
Port of Greater Baton Rouge & Industrial Docks
Dredging along the Baton Rouge riverfront supports deep-draft cargo vessels that transport grain, chemicals, oil, and building materials up and down the Mississippi. These operations are especially active near industrial docks, where vessel traffic, confined spaces, and overlapping contractors increase accident risks.
Primary Causes of Dredge Accidents in Louisiana
As massive vessels carrying powerful equipment, dredges can present serious risks to crews if they are negligently operated or maintained. Unseaworthiness, inadequate training, and a lack of proper oversight can all cause accidents that leave crews catastrophically injured and families without loved ones.
Potential causes of dredge accidents in Louisiana include:
- Heavy Machinery Failures: Crane malfunctions, dredge auger collapses, excavator breakdowns, and other heavy machinery accidents can drop massive loads onto workers, leading to crush injuries, amputations, or fatalities. All machinery and equipment must be properly maintained and replaced as needed to keep dredge crews safe.
- Drowning & Falls Overboard: Dredge decks can become slick with oil, mud, or water. A lack of proper railings and anti-slip surfaces, poor deck maintenance, and other types of negligence can result in tragic man-overboard incidents—especially when dredging equipment is involved.
- Vessel Unseaworthiness: If a dredge isn’t properly maintained and crewed, it may be considered unseaworthy. Considering the average age of a dredging vessel in the U.S. is about 25 years, proper maintenance is critical. Dredge owners and operators can be held liable for any injuries or deaths resulting from unseaworthiness.
- Inadequate Training: Dredge crews, from deckhands to captains, must be properly trained on all aspects of their jobs as well as how to handle emergency situations in order to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to stay safe. They must also be provided with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Hidden Hazards in the Seabed: Submerged Objects & Unmarked Pipelines
Dredging crews often operate with limited visibility into what lies beneath the water’s surface. Buried infrastructure—such as pipelines, utility cables, or even discarded industrial equipment or old shipwrecks—can pose deadly threats when struck by dredging tools. In high-traffic zones like the Mississippi River or near Baton Rouge’s industrial ports, it’s possible for dredgers to encounter unmarked oil or gas lines that were improperly mapped or never disclosed.
Collisions with these hidden hazards can lead to catastrophic explosions, vessel flooding, fires, or toxic chemical exposure. Cutter heads and suction arms are powerful enough to rupture pressurized lines, but not indestructible. Failure to properly survey or clear the area beforehand puts every crew member on a dredge in immediate danger.
That’s precisely what happened in August 2021, when a dredging vessel named the Waymon L. Boyd struck a submerged pipeline while operating in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. The collision triggered a massive explosion that engulfed the dredge, setting it on fire and ultimately sinking it. Four workers were killed and eight more were injured.
Proven Results in Louisiana Dredge Accident Cases
As dredge accident lawyers in Louisiana, our team at Arnold & Itkin has helped injured crew members and families through the most challenging times. We have fought for answers and accountability for our clients in these cases, helping them recover compensation for their lifelong support and care.
In one notable case, we represented a young man who was injured while working on a dredge barge in Louisiana. In violation of safe lifting practices, our client was required to lift heavy objects, resulting in an injury so severe that he needed surgery. The employer tried to blame our client, but our attorneys worked to prove that the company ignored industry standards and its own policies. We secured a $2.98 million settlement on our client’s behalf.
Other notable dredge accident case results include:
- $128 million for the widow of a dredge worker killed in an offshore explosion.
- $68 million for a dredge worker who was severely burned in a pipeline explosion.
- $1.2 million for a Louisiana dredge worker seriously injured while working in Nigeria.
Talk to a Dredge Accident Attorney in Baton Rouge
If you or a loved one work on dredge projects in or near Baton Rouge, you’re at the heart of some of the most demanding maritime operations in the nation. These projects involve enormous equipment, 24/7 schedules, environmental hazards, and layered liability. When accidents happen, choosing the right legal team can make all the difference.
You need a local dredge accident lawyer in Louisiana who:
- Understands local waterways and project times
- Knows the relevant federal and state maritime regulations
- Knows to move quickly to investigate and preserve evidence
Arnold & Itkin is known nationwide as a leading maritime law firm. We’ve helped after every major maritime disaster in the past 20 years, and we’re here to help you find answers if you or someone you love has been harmed.
Call (888) 493-1629 now for your free consultation. These cases are complex, but we have the resources and know-how to make a difference.
