Maintenance Costs on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Can Be Reduced

Three potential areas of savings have been identified regarding operation and maintenance costs on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

Small dredging jobs can be consolidated into fewer and larger contracts at more favorable rates. The districts visited placed differing emphasis on consolidation, and some officials stated that it was not always feasible. Although no particular volume was advocated, surveys indicated that this approach should be considered in preparing bid packages. More extensive advance dredging, where feasible, can reduce both long-term costs and dredging frequency. Some of the benefits and savings would include reduction of mobilization and demobilization costs, encouraging better contract prices, and decreasing Corps efforts in locating and acquiring disposal sites. Also, Corps-owned sidecasting dredges could be more efficiently scheduled.