The Dredge Essayons is the latest dredge to be built for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Delivered to the Portland District in 1983, the Essayons helps to maintain the entrance bars and harbors on the coasts of California, Oregon, Hawaii and Alaska. Because of its size and dredging depth, the Essayons is automated for operation with an unattended engine room and semiautomatic dragarm handling system. Sophisticated instrumentation allows constant production monitoring and enables the dredge crew to maintain maximum dredging efficiency 24 hours a day. The Essayons is also equipped for direct pumpout. Two crews of 23 each are assigned to the vessel. They work alternately, one week on and one week off."ESSAYONS"Is a French word meaning-"Let Us Try"