Manson Christens the FREDERICK PAUP

In March, Manson Construction Co. welcomed more than 200 guests to Woldenberg Park’s Great Lawn in New Orleans, Louisiana, to christen the FREDERICK PAUP, its newest vessel and the largest self-propelled trailing suction hopper dredge in the United States. As the single largest investment in Manson’s history, the dredge marked a defining milestone for the company and the U.S. dredging industry.

The FREDERICK PAUP crew line up on the starboard bow. Photo credit: FatHappy Media

“This is our vessel,” said Manson Chairman of the Board and Executive Vice President and vessel namesake Fred Paup. “This is a really great moment for the dredging industry.”

The christening brought together employees, industry partners, stakeholders, and guests to honor the vision, planning, and craftsmanship that brought the new dredge to life. Ceremony speakers included Fred, Manson Special Projects Manager Henry Schorr, Manson Project Manager Jordan Brown, Manson Port Engineer Sean Hayden, Dredging Contractors of America CEO William “Bill” Doyle, and U.S. Bank Sr. Vice President Phil Davis.

Together, their remarks traced the FREDERICK PAUP’s journey from an idea shaped by lessons learned from Manson’s hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS to a five-year build that required close coordination among Manson teams, shipyard partners, engineers, and maritime specialists.

Port Engineer Sean Hayden broke down the history of the FREDERICK PAUP’s build and the importance of Manson’s investment in the new vessel. Photo credit: FatHappy Media

“The FREDERICK PAUP represents the dedication of thousands of people all over the globe who worked tirelessly to bring it to life,” Sean said. “A project like this is never the work of one person or even one team. It is the result of countless individuals contributing their knowledge, skill, and energy.”

(L-R): Senior Vice President-Chief Engineer Jeff Arviso, wife Bobbi Arviso, Senior Vice President-Dredging Manager Mike Warwick, General Counsel-Senior Vice President Laurie Pinard, Corporate Ethics & Compliance Officer John Heckel, Lisa Haug, and Amado Shuck.

Beyond its size and technical capabilities, the FREDERICK PAUP demonstrates the importance and purpose of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (aka “the Jones Act”). Owned, built, flagged, and crewed in the United States, as well as being U.S.-designed, the dredge strengthens the nation’s ability to maintain critical waterways, support domestic maritime jobs, and expands the ready fleet to ensure investment in the infrastructure that keeps commerce moving and coastlines protected.

The vessel has quickly proven its value. On the Pensacola Beach Renourishment project in Florida, the FREDERICK PAUP completed its first coastal restoration project, performing dredging and pump-off operations as crews placed over one million cubic yards of sand along the 8-mile stretch of Gulf shoreline. The restoration project protects the coastline and supports local tourism and the surrounding economy.

Senior Vice President-West Coast Regional Manager Ryan King (far right) and guests took a tour of the FREDERICK PAUP. Photo credit: FatHappy Media

During the christening celebration, attendees stepped aboard the 15,000-cubic-yard, 420-foot-long, and 81-foot-wide dredge and saw firsthand the scale of the vessel now serving U.S. waterways. The day ended with one of the maritime industry’s most enduring traditions when Julia Paup, Fred’s daughter, broke a bottle of champagne against the vessel’s bow to bring good luck, safety, and protection to the ship and its crew.

“The FREDERICK PAUP carries a great name from a great organization,” Bill Doyle remarked. “It now carries a great responsibility and will serve this country for many decades to come.”

The vessel’s namesake, Fred Paup (far left), and his family with the FREDERICK PAUP in the background. Photo credit: FatHappy Media

Visit Manson's Vimeo page to watch a video on the FREDERICK PAUP Christening.