AMERICAN SHIPYARD

Feature: Dutch Treat

By Larry Pearson For many years Houma Fabricators, Houma, La. built passenger boats, offshore boats and other steel hulled vessels much like a dozen other shipyards in the Gulf south. In the mid-90's they built several large gaming boats for Iowa entrepreneur Bob Kehl. If you hadn't stopped by Houma Fabricators for the past two years, today you would not recognize the place. Purchased by Shipyard De Hoop of the Netherlands in 2001, the shipyard has undergone an amazing transformation with an $8.6 million expansion. The Dutch shipyard is turning the 42-acre Houma site into a shipyard to resemble the company's main facility in Lobith, Netherlands. " So far we have added three steel preparation halls, four subassembly halls, new slipways with bulkheads and a permanent launching system," said O.M. Monnier, President and CEO of Houma Fabricators. A two two-story administrative center and engineering department has also been built. The building of these new facilities to some extend was accelerated by a contract from Otto Candies LLC, Des Allemands, La. for five 187-ft. diesel electric supply boats. The first boat in the series was built in the Netherlands bringing the total order to six. "In effect, we have been building boats while building a shipyard," Monnier added. The hull modules of the Candies' boat are being built in the new subassembly buildings.

Feds Urged to Use U.S. Tonnage in SPR Moves

With Rising Gas Prices Fueling SPR Speculation, American Vessel Operators Urge Feds to Work With Industry To Prepare For Future Drawdowns. Foreign Ships Given Preference During Last Summer’s Drawdown.   In a letter to the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Energy (DOE) and Transportation (DOT), the American Maritime Partnership (AMP), a broad-based coalition representing U.S.-flag vessel operators and allied interests

The Efficient Tugboat: Efficienty of a Different Type: Laney Chouest

When it comes to large tugs, none is larger than the Laney Chouest, the world's largest anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel. At 348- x 72- x 31-ft., the Laney Chouest is the king of all tugs in the Gulf of Mexico, or anywhere else for that matter. It was built by the North American Shipbuilding, Larose, La. a part of Edison Chouest Offshore, Galliano, La. who also owns and operates the vessel. The vessel is super efficient since it is designed to do several jobs that formerly needed

Bush Administration Deems Jones Act ‘Essential’

In its first public statement on the Jones Act, the Bush Administration has declared the law must be maintained as “an essential element of U.S. maritime policy that provides important economic and national security benefits to the nation, such as support of the U.S. shipbuilding and ship repair industries, and maintenance of a labor base of skilled American mariners.” Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta made the statement in response to a written question following his confirmation

Shipyard Research & Development Projects – NSRP to Grant Awards

The SCRA-led National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP)  announce $2.5 million award funds for new applied research and development projects The NSRP is a collaboration of American shipyards working together to reduce the cost of building, operating and repairing US Navy ships by developing and applying advanced technology and processes. The projects will be executed through the NSRP Ship Production Panels

American Shipyard Publishes Q1 2012 Results

Conrad Incustries announce First Quarter 2012 Results & Backlog For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, Conrad achieved net income of $3.2 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.52 compared to net income of $3.7 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.58 during the first quarter of 2011.  The Company's more detailed financial reports are available here. Conrad's backlog was $70.8 million at March 31, 2012 compared to $47.1 million at December 31, 2011 and $112

Australian Maritime Report:Speed to Spare

The Australian marine industry is noted for building large, fast, efficient vessels, primarily for commercial ferry purposes. But as coastal patrol needs grow, so too do the military applications for these amazing breeds. Following is a brief review of some of the recent news from Down Under. INCAT Hobart-based shipbuilder Incat is emerging from a challenging year with news of not one, but two orders for the United States military. Just three weeks after the U.S

ACL Dedicates New Shipyard Facility

American Commercial Lines Inc. announced the dedication of a new enclosed manufacturing facility at its shipyard in Jeffersonville, IN. Associates of Jeffboat and American Commercial Lines participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate the new facility. The new building covers the assembly line that is currently producing dry cargo barges. Jerry Linzey, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer stated

Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Delivers 12th Product Tanker

Aker Philadelphia Shipyard (Oslo: AKPS), a leading U.S. commercial shipyard, delivered to American Shipping Company (Oslo: AMSC) the shipyard’s twelfth Veteran Class MT-46 product tanker. The 46,000 dwt vessel, named the Overseas Tampa, will leave the shipyard in the coming days under the operation of Overseas Shipping Group (OSG) to transport petroleum products. The on schedule delivery of this ship marks the successful conclusion of a historic shipbuilding program that began in April

American Phoenix

BAE Systems joined with Mid Ocean Tanker Company (MOTC), Mid Ocean Marine and Alterna Captial Partners earlier this year to commission the American Phoenix, a U.S. Flag/Jones Act-qualified product-chemical tanker. Measuring 616 x 105 ft. with a laden draft of 36 ft. and a cargo capacity of 49,000 dwt, American Phoenix is the largest vessel ever built and launched in the State of Alabama. BAE Systems was contracted to complete construction of the American Phoenix and prepare it for use