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Lt. Col. Ken Porter, deputy commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, speaks with crew members aboard the USACE crane barge Brandy Station during a visit to the Savannah District Navigation Branch's Engineers Depot on Hutchinson Island in Savannah, Georgia, June 17, 2026. During the visit, Porter learned about the vessel's recent work supporting the Savannah Dredged Material Management Plan Update project and its role in maintaining the nation's navigation infrastructure. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Michael Ariola)
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Lt. Col. Ken Porter, deputy commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, receives an overview of operations aboard the USACE crane barge Brandy Station from crew members during a leadership visit to the Savannah District Engineers Depot in Savannah, Georgia, June 17, 2026. The vessel recently supported the Savannah Dredged Material Management Plan Update project by collecting vibracore samples used to characterize maintenance dredged material for future beneficial use placement sites. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Michael Ariola)
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A crawler crane aboard the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crane barge Brandy Station sits staged at the Savannah District Navigation Branch's Engineers Depot on Hutchinson Island in Savannah, Georgia, June 17, 2026. The specialized floating plant supports navigation projects throughout the Corps of Engineers by providing heavy-lift and marine construction capabilities. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Michael Ariola)
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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crane barge Brandy Station is moored at the Savannah District Navigation Branch's Engineers Depot on Hutchinson Island in Savannah, Georgia, June 17, 2026. Government-owned deepwater dock space at the Engineers Depot supports federal vessels, including USACE, U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA assets, during project execution and other operational requirements. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Michael Ariola)
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Erin Weller, chief of the Waterways Section for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, discusses vessel operations aboard the USACE crane barge Brandy Station during a leadership visit to the Savannah District Engineers Depot in Savannah, Georgia, June 17, 2026. The visit highlighted collaboration between USACE districts and the specialized equipment used to support the Corps' navigation mission. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Michael Ariola)
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SAVANNAH, Ga. — Lt. Col. Ken Porter, deputy commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, visited the Brandy Station June 24 while the vessel was docked at the Savannah District Navigation Branch's Engineers Depot on Hutchinson Island.
During the visit, Porter met with crew members and received an overview of the vessel's capabilities, recent mission accomplishments and upcoming work. The visit provided an opportunity to highlight how specialized floating plant assets and personnel support navigation projects across multiple USACE districts.
Most recently, the Brandy Station supported the Savannah Dredged Material Management Plan Update by collecting vibracore samples used to characterize maintenance dredged material. The information gathered will help determine the suitability of future beneficial use placement sites as part of the long-term management plan.
The visit also highlighted the collaboration between the Wilmington and Savannah districts in maintaining the nation's navigation infrastructure. Specialized vessels, equipment and technical expertise are routinely shared across the Corps to support projects wherever they are needed.
The Savannah District Engineers Depot, located along the Savannah River on Hutchinson Island, serves as the district's hydrographic survey facility and provides government-owned deepwater dock space for federal vessels. In addition to supporting USACE assets such as the Brandy Station, the depot has recently hosted U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration vessels seeking temporary dockage during project execution.
Porter's visit underscored the importance of maintaining specialized capabilities and strong partnerships that enable the Corps of Engineers to deliver reliable navigation solutions in support of commerce, public safety and the nation's waterways.
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