Weeks Marine
Encyclopedia
Weeks Marine is an American marine construction and dredging company based in New York City. It was founded by Francis Weeks in 1919 as the Weeks Stevedoring Company.
Weeks started with two cranes in the Port of New York
, handling bunker coal and dry ballast. By the beginning of World War II, they had purchased their seventh crane and were loading military equipment bound for Europe to support the Allied Forces. The workload of the war overseas had taken its toll on the Weeks fleet, so after WWII, the wooden hulls of the cranes were replaced with steel hulls, creating the Weeks #6 and #7.
In the 1950s, the Weeks Stevedoring Company ventured into a number of marine projects outside the field of stevedoring. The company performed salvage and dredging work, installed navigational aids for the United States Coast Guard
, and even constructed a breakwater to protect the air shaft leading from the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel to Governors Island
. They also became the prime contractor assigned to remove abandoned wooden vessels for the Army Corps of Engineers, work still contracted today. In 1958, Weeks purchased their first crane to be used exclusively outside the field of stevedoring, the Weeks #500.
In 1960, Weeks brought their first vessels to the fleet as two 120 ft (36.6 m) by 38 ft (11.6 m) deck barges were built by Richmond Steel for the company. In 1962, they added their first dump scow, the Weeks #250, a 171 ft (52.1 m) by 43 ft (13.1 m) vessel. Also in 1962, the Weeks Contracting Company was formed to remove limitations which might restrict the company in ventures they would choose to pursue.
Over the next ten years, the Weeks barge fleet had grown proportionally, creating a vital infrastructural core of the Weeks operation today. During the 1970s, the first dredge, the Venture, a 169 ft (51.5 m) by 41 ft (12.5 m) 30 in (0.762 m) hydraulic dredge, and the first large tug, the William J. McPhillips, a 105 ft (32 m) 2,400 horsepower single screw tug, were purchased in an effort to broaden the company even further.
In the 1980s and 90s, the Weeks organization grew by acquiring other marine companies. During that time, Weeks substantial acquisitions were M.P. Howlett, a New York based stevedoring company, in 1983, American Dredging Company, one of the most famous dredging companies in history, in 1993, and T.L. James, another dredging company based in Louisiana
, in 1998.
Weeks started with two cranes in the Port of New York
Port of New York and New Jersey
The Port of New York and New Jersey comprises the waterways in the estuary of the New York-Newark metropolitan area with a port district encompassing an approximate area within a radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument...
, handling bunker coal and dry ballast. By the beginning of World War II, they had purchased their seventh crane and were loading military equipment bound for Europe to support the Allied Forces. The workload of the war overseas had taken its toll on the Weeks fleet, so after WWII, the wooden hulls of the cranes were replaced with steel hulls, creating the Weeks #6 and #7.
In the 1950s, the Weeks Stevedoring Company ventured into a number of marine projects outside the field of stevedoring. The company performed salvage and dredging work, installed navigational aids for the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
, and even constructed a breakwater to protect the air shaft leading from the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel to Governors Island
Governors Island
Governors Island is a island in Upper New York Bay, approximately one-half mile from the southern tip of Manhattan Island and separated from Brooklyn by Buttermilk Channel. It is legally part of the borough of Manhattan in New York City...
. They also became the prime contractor assigned to remove abandoned wooden vessels for the Army Corps of Engineers, work still contracted today. In 1958, Weeks purchased their first crane to be used exclusively outside the field of stevedoring, the Weeks #500.
In 1960, Weeks brought their first vessels to the fleet as two 120 ft (36.6 m) by 38 ft (11.6 m) deck barges were built by Richmond Steel for the company. In 1962, they added their first dump scow, the Weeks #250, a 171 ft (52.1 m) by 43 ft (13.1 m) vessel. Also in 1962, the Weeks Contracting Company was formed to remove limitations which might restrict the company in ventures they would choose to pursue.
Over the next ten years, the Weeks barge fleet had grown proportionally, creating a vital infrastructural core of the Weeks operation today. During the 1970s, the first dredge, the Venture, a 169 ft (51.5 m) by 41 ft (12.5 m) 30 in (0.762 m) hydraulic dredge, and the first large tug, the William J. McPhillips, a 105 ft (32 m) 2,400 horsepower single screw tug, were purchased in an effort to broaden the company even further.
In the 1980s and 90s, the Weeks organization grew by acquiring other marine companies. During that time, Weeks substantial acquisitions were M.P. Howlett, a New York based stevedoring company, in 1983, American Dredging Company, one of the most famous dredging companies in history, in 1993, and T.L. James, another dredging company based in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, in 1998.