<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000885538 <NAME> GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK CORPORATION <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 528 1,717 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 28,421 40,749 <ALLOWANCES> 482 450 <INVENTORY> 11,416 9,195 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 70,110 91,156 <PP&E> 233,058 212,040 <DEPRECIATION> 84,258 73,324 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 240,453 245,555 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 47,421 49,594 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 1 0 <COMMON> 50 60,000 <OTHER-SE> (50,815) 18,156 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 240,453 245,555 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 200,244 258,296 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 167,364 228,383 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 32,865 18,922 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,041 6,303 <INCOME-PRETAX> (4,362) 8,136 <INCOME-TAX> (449) 2,667 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (5,783) 3,802 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (925) 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (6,708) 3,802 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0