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RESERVE — As the world was reshaped by COVID-19, it is safe to say that 2020 was “one for the history books.” Like most companies around the world, DSC Dredge, LLC had to quickly adapt their business to a new reality. This family-owned international dredging company found itself constantly assessing how to ensure business continuity for their customers around the world while also ensuring the strictest of safety measures for their team members.

Amidst innumerable and constantly changing obstacles, the pandemic challenged DSC to unlearn old habits and adopt new ones, which ultimately allowed this U.S. based company to emerge from the crisis in a stronger position than ever before.

Some of DSC’s 2020 highlights follow.

2020 Delivers – Dredges, Remarketed Equipment, Parts and Committed Support

In 2020, DSC successfully delivered over 21 new or remarketed Dredges and Boosters within both the domestic and international market. Some of its 2020 clients included the City of Boca Raton (Shark), a division of United Contractors Midwest (Marlin), Oil Sands (Marlin), Deep Diggers- Shark Components (Bangladesh), Phillips and Jordan (Shark, Booster and more), Windward Marina (Moray), and CONRAD/NCDOT (workboat component packages) to name a few. Notable projects included Clean Harbors, Lattimore Material, and Coastal Dredging. The most popular dredge in 2020 was DSC’s Marlin Class Dredge.

Thanks to its dedicated team exceeding expectations, in the early quarters of 2020 DSC’s Part Sales Team surpassed their annual revenue projection culminating with a 15 percent increase in sales from 2019 at year’s end. Part Sales serviced over 200 distinctive customers in 2020.

While COVID-19 proved challenging with numerous travel bans, the Product Support Services group stayed consistent supporting over 25 unique customers while practicing safety measures to fulfill its obligations. At the close of 2020 and moving forward into 2021, DSC continues to prove dependable as they support clients both domestically and internationally. Whether across the street or across the globe, they were ready and willing to get the client back up and kept them running. The team successfully completed dredge maintenance training, dredge retrofits, dredge moves and dredge fitness surveys. Not to mention, numerous onsite equipment surveys with recommendations for equipment upgrades and improvements that increased client throughput. With today’s market conditions and the economic challenges that we all face, every dollar counts.

Amidst Pandemic – Leading The Way in Innovation and Technology

While there was no way to predict the pandemic and the countless challenges faced by many dredge owners and operators, DSC released a wave of new and innovative tech-focused products which not only proved to many their ability to stay ahead of the game, but highlighted DSC’s commitment to industry advancement.

The release of DSC Vision, the DSC Dredge MasterSuite (IOS) and Dredge Rx allowed for a seamless transitional option for many dredge owner/operators to continue both productivity and safeguard the well being of their employees, thus creating everyday operational convenience.

The official release of DSC Vision in early 2020 unveiled a user-friendly bottom visualization system that provides dredge operators and managers with “eyes below the water.” It integrates geographical dredge cutterhead position and heading, multibeam sonar imaging and mapping, dredge navigation and instrumentation, remote connectivity and monitoring, and a user graphical display and software interface that correctly depicts the current dredge location, depth of the cutterhead, and topography of the bottom. The DSC Dredge MasterSuite (IOS) App created more convenience allowing dredge owners and operators to take better control of their operations through a comprehensive production toolbox that continues to provide its users with benchmarking data, operational information and “what-if” options at their fingertips. When paired with DSC’s Dredge Rx system, it becomes part of a complete maintenance solution that allows users to view and track dredge performance and required servicing while on the dredge or while working remotely.

By the end of 2020, DSC sold seven DSC Vision packages, had 25 companies using Dredge Rx and the DredgeMaster Suite app was already downloaded by hundreds of customers.

International Relations – Helping Economic Growth Through Agreements

In 2020, DSC crossed borders helping economic growth in Chattogram, Bangladesh by signing a licensing agreement with Deep Diggers Limited.  Currently, Deep Diggers is building two 18-inch DSC Shark Class dredges with completion dates for the first quarter of 2021.  Deep Diggers plan on building 10 more DSC dredges of various sizes over the next 12 months.

Projection shows that the demand for DSC quality dredges remains strong in South America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

A Look Forward in 2021 – Ongoing Projects, Presentations, New & Improved Dredges

Ongoing Projects

As 2021 commences, DSC is continuing to navigate this pandemic. DSC continues forward with a strong workload of fourteen projects, including the first ever 20-inch electric Sharkuda® Class dredge.

Presentations

DSC is not new to the speaking circuit, and always enjoys giving back to the industry. In January 2021, Bill Wetta, DSC co-owner, senior vice president of product development & chief technology officer taught the Texas A&M Dredging Engineering Short Course.

Next up DSC will be presenting at the 2021 NSSGA AGG1 Aggregates Academy and Exchange Virtual Meeting taking place on February 22-24. AGG1 Academy is the aggregates industry’s leading education resource.

 

2021 Rollouts

As DSC continues to deliver, 2021 rollouts will include:

• Dredges: An upgraded Marlin and Moray class dredges, in addition to a stock Shark class dredge, will be ready for shipment in 2021. The details of the newly improved Marlin and Moray will be in release soon.
• Booster: A new 12-inch [300 mm] booster, which will be available for rental or sale.
• Technology:  DSC DredgeMaster Suiteapp (Available for Android).

Overall, “through all the impediments, the DSC family remained committed to maintaining safe work environments and business continuity for both our staff and customers. It is with these thoughts that I thank all team members and customers for continuing to support DSC throughout 2020,” stated Bob Wetta (DSC co-owner, president and chief executive officer). Bill Wetta added, “one of the things we’ve learned during this extraordinary year is that sometimes small things can be a big deal, small adjustments to performance and development, can transform the traditional process into an experience that resonates with both our clients and team members. We have shown that we can withstand the unexpected and come out stronger.”

DSC Dredge operates from three manufacturing facilities located in Reserve, Poplarville, Mississippi, and Greenbush, Michigan. For more information about the company and its products, services and customized solutions, please visit www.dscdredge.com.