A christening ceremony and community day to celebrate Miss Katie, the new 156-foot-long shallow-draft hopper dredge, is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 13, in Wanchese Harbor.
The dredge is to help address the significant shoaling that occurs in various channels and inlets throughout Dare County in an effort to keep these waterways open and navigable for both commercial and recreational vessels, officials said.
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Under the direction of the Oregon Inlet Task Force, Miss Katie is the result of a yearslong collaboration between Dare County officials and EJE Dredging Service, who owns the dredge. The dredge, built at Conrad Shipyard in Louisiana, officially arrived in Wanchese, the dredge’s homeport, Aug. 19.
During community day 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 13, the public is welcome to drop by Miss Katie’s homeport in Wanchese Harbor, 928 Harbor Road, and take a guided tour of the dredge. The community day will also feature music and light refreshments.
The christening ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Wanchese Harbor and conclude with a bottle of champagne being broken against Miss Katie’s bow to bless the vessel with good luck and safe travels.
Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard, Dare County Commissioner and Oregon Inlet Task Force Chairman Jim Tobin and EJE Dredging Service Vice President Jordan Hennessy, as well as several federal and state government partners and industry representatives, are to speak during the ceremony.
Limited parking is available at the event site at Wanchese Harbor, and attendees are encouraged to wear tennis shoes or deck shoes to the event.
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Contact Hennessy at 252-619-3606 or jhennessy@ejedredging.com for more information.
