Encore Acquires Dredging Assets Of RLB Contracting, Establishes Coastal Division
In April, Encore Dredging Partners (EDP), a specialty dredging and marine infrastructure services company, and its backing company, AV Capital, announced the acquisition of RLB Contracting’s dredging division assets.
In addition to the acquisition of RLB’s dredging division assets and related equipment, Encore will hire RLB’s dredging crew members and related maintenance personnel.
“The acquisition of the RLB dredging division assets is key to the continued strategic expansion of EDP’s fleet, capabilities and geographic reach,” EDP CEO Dwayne Breaux said. “We are excited to add these productive assets to our existing fleet and to attract experienced dredge operating and maintenance crews to our outstanding team.”
Key assets acquired include the cutter suction dredge (CSD) Jonathan King Boyd, which RLB added to its fleet in 2010 and rebuilt in 2018, and the CSD Eagle One, added to the RLB fleet in 2018. Encore also acquired the cutterhead dredge Pat Lundin and RLB’s off-loader capabilities.
With the acquisition, EDP established a Texas-based Coastal Dredging Division to serve public and private customers throughout the Gulf Coast region.
“AV Capital is excited about the continued expansion of the EDP platform,” said Vernon Bryant, managing partner of AV Capital. “We continue to partner with the EDP management team, seeking opportunities to expand our dredging and marine infrastructure services platform and to provide top quality operations with a focus on customer service and safety.”
Encore has hired Mark Slider to serve as president of its new Coastal Dredging Division, which will focus on maintenance dredging projects for both private and public customers along the Gulf Coast and East Coast. Slider brings more than three decades of experience in the marine and construction industries.
He brings five years of experience in the dredging industry, having served as senior vice president of Gulf Coast dredging for Orion Group Holdings. With Orion, Slider oversaw all dredging operations and worked closely with private companies, public entities and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Previously, he served as vice president of operations for Wison Offshore & Marine.
“We are very excited to have Mark Slider join our team,” Breaux said. “Mark has an impressive history in the dredging business of delivering high quality services and building strong customer relationships. Mark is an exceptional leader, and he will contribute significantly to the success of our Coastal Dredging Division.”
The April announcements from Encore continue a busy start to the year for the newly formed company. In January, Encore and AV Capital acquired Dyersburg, Tenn.-based Inland Dredging Company. Under the terms of that acquisition, Inland’s management team was retained, and Inland Dredging became a brand of Encore.
Besides its lineup of dredging services, which include maintenance and new dredging, deepening projects and coastal restoration, Encore also offers hydrographic survey services and the construction of marine infrastructure within waterways.
