Work in progress at one of Bollinger’s OPA’90 barge building facilities continues on schedule, as the backlog increases with the signing of two 60,000 and one 80,000 BBL offshore units for Bouchard.
Bollinger Gretna, L.L.C., and Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., two Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. facilities, have signed contracts for new construction of three OPA’90 compliant tank barges, consisting of one (1) 80,000, and two (2) 60,000 barrel (BBL) units for Bouchard Ocean Services, L.L.C., Melville, N.Y.
The announcement was made by Bollinger Executive Vice President of New Construction, Chris Bollinger, as a Christmas and New Years present for the two Bollinger facilities. “Bollinger is ending the year on a positive note with the recent delivery of several vessels, and we are bringing in 2008 on a great note with the signing of these three units with Bouchard.”
The 80,000 BBL tank barge, which will be built at Bollinger Gretna, L.L.C., in Harvey, Louisiana, is a manned ocean, clean oil barge measuring 399-feet long, with a 74-foot beam and a depth of 28-feet. Named the B. No. 284, it is a sister ship to Bollinger’s recently delivered B. No 282. The barge is built to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA’90), with twelve (12) cargo compartments and three (3) separate pumping systems.
The two (2) 60,000 BBL tank barges, which will be built at Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., in Amelia, Louisiana, are manned ocean, clean oil barges measuring 350-foot long, with a 70-foot beam and a depth of 25-feet. Named B. No. 262 and B. No. 264, they are near sisters to the B. No. 260, currently in production at Bollinger Gretna. The barges are being built to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA’90), with ten (10) cargo compartments and two (2) separate pumping systems.
Morton S. Bouchard, III, President/CEO of Bouchard Affiliates (Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc./ Bouchard Coastwise Management / Bouchard Ocean Services) said, “We are pleased to have come to an agreement with Bollinger for the next segment of Bouchard’s double hull program. These three barges will be built to the highest standards in the industry that both Bouchard and our customers demand. These three barges will provide our existing and new customers with the safety and efficiency that they demand.” Mr. Bouchard went on to say, “Bouchard looks forward to future contracts with the Bollinger family.”