Our History

Southern Maryland Dredging, Inc. was founded in 1966 by Oz Wilson Jr. with an Ellicott 370 cutter suction dredge named the Patuxent. A pioneer in the dredging industry, Oz built his career through hands-on work and complex projects, including international experience assisting in the dredging of major canals in Turkey. His early work and leadership helped establish the company’s reputation for capability and reliability in challenging marine environments.

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In 1978, Oz was joined by his younger brother, Compton Wilson, and together they expanded the company’s reach across the Chesapeake Bay region for the next decade. When Oz retired to the Florida Keys in 1988, Compton continued leading operations and strengthening the company’s presence and expertise in hydraulic dredging.

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In 2016, Compton was joined by his youngest daughter, Erika Wilson, who grew up around the dredges and developed a deep connection to the family business from an early age. She now serves as the sole owner of Southern Maryland Dredging, continuing the family legacy and guiding the company into its next chapter.

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From its earliest projects, the company built its reputation by taking on challenging work in shallow and confined waterways, consistently delivering dependable results rooted in craftsmanship, problem-solving, and regional expertise. As demand grew, so did our capabilities, with ongoing investments in equipment and long-line dredging techniques that allow us to handle increasingly complex projects with precision and efficiency.

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Today, nearly 60 years later, Southern Maryland Dredging remains grounded in the same values it was founded on—hard work, integrity, and quality execution—while continuing to support and preserve the waterways that connect and sustain the communities we serve.