Dredge McFarland Bows Out After 60 Years and 100 Million Cubic Yards
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers honoured the 1967-built vessel at a farewell ceremony in Philadelphia.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District held a farewell ceremony for the Dredge McFarland on October 23 at Fort Mifflin, marking the end of the vessel’s operational service after nearly six decades. The event brought together current and former crew members, the McFarland family, maritime partners, and stakeholders to recognize the ship’s contributions to the Delaware River and waterways nationwide.
During the ceremony, Army ceremonial protocols were observed, including the securing of the watch and the lowering of the USACE distinguishing flag. The flag was presented to descendants of Arthur McFarland, the vessel’s namesake. A final whistle signaled the tribute to the ship’s long service, while crew members were formally rung ashore.
U.S. Army Corps Honors Dredge McFarland After Nearly 60 Years of Service
“We are joined by an extraordinary gathering of leaders, partners, and friends whose presence underscores the significance of this ship to our region and our country,” said Lt. Col. Ryan A. Baum, Commander of the USACE Philadelphia District. D. Lee Forsgren, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, added, “We honor the ship today, the skill of those who maintained her, the families who supported her crew, and the generations of mariners who gave her name its legacy.”
Following its final mission, the McFarland will remain pierside at Fort Mifflin while the Army Corps constructs its replacement, the medium-class hopper dredge Donnelly.
The Dredge McFarland was launched in 1966 at Bethlehem Steel’s Sparrows Point yard near Baltimore and completed the following year. Named after Arthur McFarland, a distinguished U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging expert, the vessel honored a career that spanned four decades. McFarland began as an engineman, advanced to dredge master, and later became a leading figure in the Corps’ dredging operations. He oversaw projects in the New Orleans and Galveston districts before joining the Office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington, D.C.
A Legacy Built on Service and Versatility
The McFarland family played a central role in both the ship’s christening and its farewell. At the 1966 launch, Arthur McFarland’s daughter, Alice McFarland Wilson, served as sponsor, while his wife acted as matron of honor. Nearly 60 years later, his granddaughters, Sandra Wilson and Margo London, along with great-grandchildren Phil and Laura London and great-nephew James McFarland, attended the October ceremony. “It was a wonderful event,” Margo London said. “We’re so glad we could be here. It was very touching.”
The McFarland’s adaptable design allowed it to discharge dredged material through bottom release, sidecasting, or direct pump-out, making it a valuable asset across multiple USACE districts. Before its reassignment to the Philadelphia District in 1982, the vessel served under the Galveston District, supporting navigation along the Texas coast. Over its service life, the McFarland dredged more than 100 million cubic yards of material and completed 11 Ready Reserve missions after entering that status in 2010.
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