Christy DiFelice, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. project manager, coordinates beach renourishment operations at Surfside Beach, South Carolina, July 27, 2026. DiFelice oversees the deployment of the Dredge Amelia Island—the newest hopper dredge in the GLDD fleet. The massive 346-foot vessel features a 6,330 cubic yard hopper capacity and utilizes dual trailing suction pipes to dredge depths up to 100 feet. Under DiFelice's leadership, crews working alternating four-week shifts leverage the vessel's 16,500 total installed horsepower to pump sand faster and further down the pipeline, accelerating the USACE Charleston District's storm risk reduction mission.
The primary purpose of this renourishment is to build a wider, higher beach and dune system capable of absorbing storm wave energy, which protects oceanfront homes, businesses, roads and utilities from flooding and structural damage. While the wide, sandy beach also offers an inviting shoreline for tourists and the public, coastal protection remains the primary goal.
The Grand Strand Renourishment project has progressed steadily down the coast this year. North Myrtle Beach sand placement finished Jan. 31. In Myrtle Beach, work began in May and sand placement finished July 3. The final reach of the project in Surfside Beach and Garden City is expected to be completed by mid-August.
| Date Taken: | 07.27.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 07.28.2026 09:32 |
| Photo ID: | 9835048 |
| VIRIN: | 260727-A-SL031-1006 |
| Resolution: | 5472x3648 |
| Size: | 5.05 MB |
| Location: | SURFSIDE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 4 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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