Frederick Paup

Timeline
The project was initiated around 2020, with the dredge’s hull and systems laid down and assembled over several years.
keel laying 3 augustus 2021 at the Keppel AmFELS Shipyard in Brownsville, Texas.
Manson Construction Co. reached another milestone in July 2023 launching the hopper dredge FREDERICK PAUP into the water at the AmFELS (a member of Seatrium Group) shipyard in Brownsville, Texas.
As of early 2026, the Frederick Paup has been delivered and entered service, ready for major dredging tasks.
U.S. Dredging Milestone

It is the largest self-propelled hopper dredge ever built under the U.S. flag, representing a major investment by the U.S. dredging industry.

Size & Capability
The dredge measures roughly 420 feet (128 m) long and 81 feet (25 m) wide, with a hopper capacity of more than 15,000 cubic yards of dredged material.
Powered by diesel-electric engines (meeting modern Tier 4 emissions standards), it produces large amounts of power and is designed for fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

Design & Construction
Manson Construction Company — a long-established U.S. marine contractor — commissioned the vessel.
The dredger was built at the Seatrium AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, Texas, with design support from specialist naval architects.
Construction included careful planning to improve safety and performance based on lessons from earlier dredges.