Dredging Operations Underway at Rudee Inlet
Virginia Beach Public Works has announced that the US Army Corps of Engineers' dredge The Charleston, began dredging operations on Monday, March 28, 2022 as a part of the Rudee Inlet maintenance dredging program.
Operations are being conducted between Owls Creek, Lake Wesley, and the Lake Rudee intersection. Beach equipment began arriving to the 2nd Street access on Monday, March 21, and continued arriving each day through Friday, March 25.
Trucks arrived at 2nd Street where heavy equipment was off-loaded and taken to equipment laydown areas. Steel shore pipe was also unloaded and was taken to the established laydown area between the 4th and 5th Street accesses.
Norfolk Dredging Company (NDC) personnel assisted with the process including directing bystanders to stay clear throughout the unloading.
The dredge was towed into Rudee Inlet and anchored across from Croatan Point Dock. All dredge equipment was stored on the dredge plant itself, equipment barges, or rafted pipelines anchored outside navigable channel and were lit properly to USCG regulations.
Although the dredging operations are occurring in and around the channel, a floating pipeline has been placed parallel along the south side of the mouth of the inlet. Any used submerged pipelines are marked with buoys every 120 feet with appropriate signs placed at the pipeline entry and exit points. The floating pipeline length is approximately 1500 feet at its longest and will be anchored and tended by tender tugboats.
Mariners are requested to exercise extreme caution when approaching, passing, and leaving the dredging plant and the dredge prior to passing. The dredge operator will standby on Channels #13, #16, and #5 VHF-FM. For emergencies, the dredge operator can be reached at 757-508-2326.
