September 2025
Mohawk Northeast Inc. has come a long way since its early days as a sewer and land contractor. Founded in the 1970s by the father of current Marine Division Manager Mike Heinke, the company has steadily evolved to become a leader in marine construction along the East Coast.
“We started out small, but over the years we shifted our focus toward marine work,” said Heinke. “In 2000, we purchased our current facility in Groton, Connecticut, and that’s when things really started to take off. It’s a great location, and we’ve been fortunate to stay busy ever since.””
Headquartered in Groton and operating across the river in New London, Mohawk Northeast’s marine operations are positioned in the heart of the Long Island Sound. The team tackles a broad range of projects, such as facility maintenance, dredging, building piers and quay walls, and even managing a fleet of tugboats and barges.
“We do all things marine related,” noted Heinke. “We’ve worked in places like Martha’s Vineyard, New Bedford and Nantucket. We go where the work takes us.”
With over 100 employees at the Groton location and more than 300 companywide, Mohawk Northeast has built a strong team capable of handling challenging and diverse projects.
“Having a good staff makes all the difference,” acknowledged Heinke. “We’ve been able to bring on really talented people who are comfortable working in unique conditions. That’s what allows us to keep taking on more complex jobs.”
The company’s flexibility and wide-ranging expertise have been key to its longevity. Rather than focusing on one niche, Mohawk Northeast embraces variety, often taking on projects that others shy away from.
“We’ve always tried to stay fluid,” Heinke commented. “We don’t limit ourselves to just one type of work, and that’s helped us navigate changing markets and keep our people working.”
Deepwater Precision
One of Mohawk Northeast’s recent high-profile jobs involved a dredging project for General Dynamics Electric Boat, a major submarine builder on the Thames River. For this job, Mohawk Northeast needed to dig as deep as 42 feet beneath the waterline — something no standard equipment could handle.
“We needed a machine that could hit those depths while giving us the control we required,” explained Heinke. “That’s when we turned to the Mantsinen 140R.”
The Mantsinen 140R material handler, sourced through SMH Group and Chadwick-BaRoss, proved to be the ideal fit. With its advanced hydraulics, high-lift cab and the addition of Topcon GPS technology, the machine offered precision and power in one package.
“The machine performed flawlessly,” Heinke declared. “It gave us the volume, depth and accuracy we needed. We were actually able to finish ahead of schedule because of how efficient it was.”
Operator Buck Swain was behind the controls of the Mantsinen 140R for much of the project. For him, the experience was unlike anything else he’s operated before.
“It’s the biggest machine we’ve purchased,” Swain said. “The cab is comfortable, the controls are smooth, and everything inside is laid out really well. It’s been a pleasure to run.”
Swain emphasized how vital the onboard technology was, particularly on a job where operators can’t see what they’re digging.
“You’re working blind, essentially,” Swain explained. “The GPS system and LMI (Load Moment Indicator) in the machine tell you exactly where the bucket is and how deep you’re going. That’s critical when you’re dredging at 40 feet.”
The hydraulic efficiency also stood out during the months-long operation, with the machine averaging just 10 gallons of fuel per hour.
“It uses stored hydraulic energy when the boom comes down to help with the lift,” Swain described. “It makes a big difference when you’re moving heavy material all day.”
Once dredged, the material was barged to Mohawk Northeast’s yard, treated with Portland cement to stabilize it and trucked to a disposal site. The seamless flow of this process helped accelerate the project timeline.
“We were dredging, loading, processing and shipping all at once, and with the Mantsinen, it all moved faster than we expected,” Swain stated.
Custom-fit Solution
Behind the scenes, the relationship between Mohawk Northeast and SMH Group played a key role in the project’s success. The machine was sourced quickly, delivered on time and supported through every step.
“The folks at SMH and Chadwick-BaRoss were great,” reflected Heinke. “They helped us get to the factory in Finland to see how the machines are built, and they made sure we had everything we needed to get it working here. It was a true partnership.”
That level of commitment was echoed by Todd Dohnal, Eastern Regional Sales Manager for SMH Group.
“The support is going to be key on this because it is a 24/7 operation,” emphasized Dohnal. “Our group and Mantsinen Finland will be watching and monitoring this unit constantly to make sure it performs as expected.”
Rob Harrison, Territory Sales Manager for Chadwick-BaRoss, helped facilitate the entire transaction, and he recalled how the team selected the Mantsinen 140R after considering the job specs.
“We originally looked at the 90R but realized the 140R was the better fit for the depth and production needs,” Harrison recounted. “It came equipped with a 6-cubic-yard Rotobec bucket and the right boom setup to maximize efficiency.”
From factory visit to final delivery, the experience was defined by collaboration and precision.
“Mohawk was incredibly professional throughout the entire process,” Harrison said. “They made it easy to get our people on-site and were always accommodating. It’s been one of the best partnerships I’ve had.”
Dohnal added, “Mantsinen is a small company that really cares about its customers. Everything they do is customer-oriented, and it was great to bring Mohawk into that environment. From our visit to Finland to commissioning the machine in Connecticut, it was a great experience all around.”
Built for More
Looking ahead, Mohawk Northeast sees continued opportunities for the Mantsinen 140R beyond dredging. A custom grapple is being fabricated to allow for rock handling and breakwater construction on upcoming jobs.
“We have some big projects on the horizon,” Heinke confirmed. “Between dredge work and Army Corps of Engineers contracts involving armor stone, we’re excited about what’s next. This machine will definitely be part of that future.”
Quotes
“The machine performed flawlessly. It gave us the volume, depth and accuracy we needed.” -Mike Heinke, Marine Division Manager, Mohawk Northeast Inc.
“The cab is comfortable, the controls are smooth, and everything inside is laid out really well.” -Buck Swain, Operator, Mohawk Northeast Inc.
“It’s been one of the best partnerships I’ve had.” -Rob Harrison, Territory Sales Manager, Chadwick-BaRoss
Customer Snapshot
By The Numbers
