Miami, Fl. — May 27, 2008 —Col. Paul Grosskruger, Commander Jacksonville District, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and Rep. Kendrick Meek (D), US House Committee on Ways and Means and Armed Services Committee, received an update briefing and tour of the historic Merrill-Stevens yacht repair facility on the Miami River. Merrill-Stevens is planning a modernized and expanded mega-yacht repair facility at its longstanding Shipyard on the Miami River. 

 

The US Army Corps of Engineers is coordinating the dredging of the Miami River’s federal channel. And, while the local and state sponsors have supported their pieces of the financial funding equation, Congress is increasing its effort to secure a significant share of the maintenance dredge and environmental cleanup dollars for the Miami River. 

 

The maintenance dredge and environmental cleanup will increase international trade, commerce and local employment and is essential to improving the natural environment of the Miami River, its tributaries and Biscayne Bay.  

“The enormously complex Shipyard plans are dependent upon scores of items on a checklist. One of the most important elements of the modernization plan’s success is the completion of the maintenance dredging of the Miami River,” said Ron Baker, Merrill-Stevens Shipyard President.

 

The planned modernization and expansion of the yacht repair facility will allow mega yachts up to 250 feet in length to travel up the Miami River for full-service yacht repair and refit. Once the overall project is completed and fully operational, projections indicate the Merrill-Stevens Shipyard will employ 500, many of them marine industry craftsmen and craftswomen building careers in the marine trades.