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Leevac Industries News

09 Oct 2020

Theriot Named CEO of Southwest Shipyard

Scott Theriot has been named president and CEO of Southwest Shipyard L.P., effective August 12, 2020.Theriot takes over from Read Boles who has served as interim president and CEO since February, following the passing of the shipyard's previous president and CEO Martin DeCamp.Boles has returned to his advisory role on the company's board of directors.Theriot has more than 30 years of marine industry and executive leadership experience in vessel new construction and repair in the Gulf Coast region…

21 Feb 2012

Tidewater PSV Named For New Orleans Native Cindy Brown

(Credit: Skeets Photo Service)

Platform supply vessel Cindy Brown Tide was delivered to offshore-service giant Tidewater on Oct. 24, and chartered to oil company BP in the Gulf of Mexico. The boat's namesake is someone missed by many. "The vessel was named for Cynthia Niklaus Brown, a wonderful woman who passed away in late 2009 in Houston after being diagnosed with cancer," said Joseph Badeaux, general manager and vice president at Houma, La.-based Quality Shipyards, a subsidiary of Tidewater. Brown, a New Orleans native…

16 Nov 2010

EBDG to Design Lightering Support Vessel

Image courtesy Elliott Bay Design Group

As a player in the Gulf lightering business, AET recognizes the need for modern, new lightering support tonnage to better serve its clients and aid safe operations. Although the new generation lightering support vessel (LSV) might look similar to a Gulf supply boat, several characteristics set it apart. It is designed to be easily built and operated. It also features less piping, ballast and cargo tankage. Since the vessel is mission-specific to handle Yokohama fenders and small cargos for tankers…

02 Sep 2003

LEEVAC Wins $40M Casino Boat Contract

Leevac Industries, LLC of Jennings, La., won a $40 million contract from PNK (Lake Charles), LLC for the construction of a 330 x 225 x 13-ft. (100.5 x 68.5 x 3.9 m) Paddlewheel Casino Vessel. Lay, Pittman and Associates, Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla., are the naval architects. The casino vessel will hold more than 1,500 slot machines and 60 table games and will be moored in Lake Charles, La. This vessel will be the largest riverboat casino built in the State of Louisiana. Leevac’s President, William F. Stokes said, “We are pleased that Pinnacle Entertainment has placed the confidence in our ability to construct this project and the award…

09 May 2002

Focus on Safety Pays Off for SCA Member Shipyards

Injury and illness rates at shipyards that belong to the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) have declined over the past three years helping facilities to drastically their overhead costs. The average Total Recordable Incident Rates (TRIR) for SCA member facilities declined from 12.94 percent in 1998 to 11.76 percent in 2001, while the average TRIR for the industry as a whole (SIC 3731) as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was 20.2 percent in 1999 and 22 percent in 2000. SCA’s data is based on the quarterly injury and illness surveys calculated by the Council. SCA has an active safety committee that reviews the results of each quarterly survey and holds bi-annual safety seminars to address the areas where most injuries occur.

04 Jun 2002

HORNBECK-LEEVAC Changes Name

HORNBECK-LEEVAC Marine Services, Inc. announced that it has changed its name to Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. The new corporate name was approved at the company's recent annual meeting of stockholders. The name of the tug and tank barge owning subsidiary, LEEVAC Marine, LLC, has also been changed to Hornbeck Offshore Transportation, LLC. The name changes are effective immediately. Todd M. Hornbeck, President and CEO remarked, "These name changes will allow us to operate under a common identity across each of our operating divisions and facilitate the markets' identification with each of our services under one name and one logo.

18 Jun 2002

FEATURE: Staking a Claim in GOM and Beyond

Todd Hornbeck, who has quickly yet judiciously built a sizeable marine company at Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. in just five years, shares with MarineNews the secrets of his success. Upon meeting with Todd Hornbeck, President and CEO of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. at the literal epicenter of big oil dollars - the recent Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston - one is continuously struck with the contrasts of the man and mission. "Cutting edge, but very conservative and practical in our approach to business" is his description of the company. The son of a successful entrepreneur who survived the devastating oil downturn of the early to mid 1980s…

17 Jul 2002

COMMUNICATIONS: Vessel Operators Stay Connected on the Go

In today's fast moving offshore service industry with vessels venturing deeper and deeper into the Gulf of Mexico and to far off oilrigs around the world, communications is more important than ever. Today's offshore service vessels need far more ship-to-ship, ship to shore and even internal ship communications than ever before. "System redundancy is the key to today's state-of-the-art marine communications system", said Karl Beier, president of Beier Radio, Harvey, La. one of the leading suppliers of maritime communications equipment. "Communications backups not only make good sense but SOLAS rules mandate separate communications systems be in place to meet the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)", Beier added.

08 Sep 2004

DH Barge Construction Keeps Yards Humming

Shipyards in most major shipbuilding centers around the country are busy with double-hulled barge projects. The required phase out by OPA-90 regulations of single hulled barges over 25 years old by 2005 is the reason why there is considerable activity in this sector. Many petroleum transportation companies are building new barges and some barges with useful life remaining are being double hulled…so there is a good mix of new construction and renovation. This elevated level of building activity has led one strictly repair yard to take on new barge construction activity. For example the Manitowoc Marine Group's repair yard in Toledo, Ohio has its first new build in 15 years. They have under construction a 110,000 barrel barge for Hornbeck Offshore Transportation LLC, Mandeville, La.

11 Jan 2005

Are More Casino Boats on the Horizon?

While the Casino boat building business has been stagnant for nearly a decade, there maybe emerging opportunities for growth. For naval architects, shipyards, interior designers and marine systems and equipment suppliers the mid 1990's was a heady time. Over 100 casino boats were built during this time. If there are more on the way, it will be a smaller market this time around. The market is not so much for new boats for new jurisdictions, since the last casino boat legislation was passed in Indiana in 1993, almost 12 years ago. What is happening is that those boats are now 12 years old and needing replacement. Over the past couple of years some boats have been replaced.

22 Feb 2005

Conrad Adds to Management Team

Conrad Industries, Inc. the appointment of Terry T. Frickey as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. Company’s four shipyards. Conrad’s President and Chief Executive Officer. and Chief Executive Officer. Bollinger Houston shipyard and Manager of Repair Operations for the LEEVAC Industries Repair Group. From 1991 to 1994 he was President of Service Marine Industries, Inc. Louisiana. Cecil A. Financial Officer will become Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. Additionally, Richard D. Allen has joined the Company as Assistant Operations Manager. to have Richard join our team,” said Mr. various capacities starting at welder/fitter, foreman, superintendent, Yard Manager, General Manager, V.P. of Operations and President.

02 Jul 2003

Guascor Engines Make Serious Inroads

Guascor Inc, a manufacturer of diesel and gas engines, power systems and marine reduction gears based in Northern Spain and distributed throughout the Southeastern United States by Reagan Equipment Company, Inc. has accumulated a number of interesting references in the past six months, installations that should go a long way in extending the brand to users throughout the country. For the Louisiana Department of Transportation's Ferry Division, Guascor supplied a pair of SF 180 TAs for the repower and repair of the 30-year-old ferryboat, M/V Acadia. M/V Acadia has a busy work life, crossing the Mississippi River at State Route 75 in Plaquemine, LA, every half-hour, 16 hours a day, seven days a week carrying up to 35 cars per trip.

07 Jul 2003

Feature: Heavy Haulers … Fast Haulers

Mud, Mud, Mud. Liquid mud is the name of the game in the design of today's offshore service vessels. The drilling rigs not only want huge volumes of mud, but they want the vessels that serve them to be able to carry several different types of liquid mud. That means two or three separate piping and pumping systems to keep the mud from cross contamination. That also increases demands for automated control and alarm systems, many of which utilize touch screen controls. The rigs also need dry bulk cement, barite and other such products, so dry bulk tanks with 6,000 or so cu. ft. of capacity would be desired. Many rig owners would also like the vessels to carry methanol and…

20 Nov 2002

Leevac Stays Ahead of the Game

While it would be foolhardy to classify Leevac as a cutting-edge ship and boatbuilder, the Jennings, La.-based company quietly goes about its business of building high quality vessels in an efficient manner. Unassuming president Fred Stokes sits at the helm of the company that has weathered markets good and bad, and watched as competitors and colleagues have been oftentimes swept overboard by financial maelstroms. The secret to Leevac's success lies not in its physical facilities, though the company is not hesitant to invest should a proven technology help to make its operations more efficient. Its success lies in, trite as it sounds, relationships with its customers, offering a known quantity with little or no surprises.

21 Feb 2003

Safety: Onboard & Living Large

No one ever said that working on the inland rivers or in the Gulf of Mexico on a vessel was a picnic. It is axiomatic that the hours are long, the work physically demanding and the workplace environment potentially dangerous. That is why newer deliveries emphasize crew habitability. Vessel owners and operators know that well-rested and well-fed crews are safer crews and safety cannot be over emphasized in this severe setting. That is why there has been a significant upgrading in crew accommodations, galleys and entertainment and communications options. The three workboats profiled below offer proof positive that today's "crew friendly" boats are safer and more enjoyable places to work. No vessel type has more personnel on board than a crew boat.

08 Jun 2001

Hornbeck Offshore Delivers HOS Innovator

Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc. of Mandeville La. delivered its first Classed DP II PSV, HOS Innovator, for service. Leevac Industries of Jennings, La. constructed the vessel to Hornbeck's design. Upon delivery, the vessel began a three-year charter with Sonsub Inc. of Houston, Texas as a multi functional ROV Support Vessel. Measuring 240 x 54 x 18 ft. (73.1 x 16.4 x 5.4 m), this vessel is the first of six DP II classed vessels to be delivered to Hornbeck Offshore during the next eight months. The latest of the HOS "New Breed" has been uniquely engineered to offer numerous advantages over existing tonnage in the U.S flag fleet. The unique hull form assists in making the Innovator a very DP capable and fuel-efficient vessel.

09 Jul 2001

Local Yards Start to Feel the Impact

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico region is again poised to prosper, spurred by the buzz of activity surrounding the oil patch, and specifically the renewed vigor with which companies will explore and develop deepwater fields for the production of natural resources. Though the resumption of business at "full throttle" has taken perhaps a bit longer than many observers would have initially predicted, particularly given the continued high price of oil and gas and the "pro" oil industry political team occupying the White House, it is a safe bet that, at least for the next several years, the offshore oil business will ensure that the marine business in the GOM region is a prosperous one.

24 Apr 2003

Vessels: HOS Bluewater Delivered by Leevac

On March 16, 2003, Hornbeck Offshore Services (HOS) took delivery of the HOS Bluewater from LEEVAC Industries LLC. The vessel was delivered to Hornbeck Offshore two weeks ahead of schedule and immediately began a term charter for an unnamed operator. The HOS Bluewater is the first of four deepwater OSV's that will be delivered to Hornbeck Offshore by year's end. Designed by and built for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC, the HOS BLUEWATER is the company's seventh DP-2 vessel. HOS Bluewater measures 240 x 54 x 19-ft. The latest of the HOS "New Breed" has been uniquely engineered to offer numerous advantages over existing tonnage. The unique hull form assists in making the Bluewater a very DP capable and fuel-efficient vessel.

24 Apr 2003

Feature: Major Operators Adding OSVs at Record Pace

Although this has been considered an off year in the Gulf of Mexico from rig count and fleet utilization standpoints, it is another record year for major offshore operators expanding their fleets and the shipyards that are building these vessels. Last year, over 50 supply boats were delivered and about an equal number of crew/supply vessels made their way into the fleets of operators. This year looks equally robust as vessels are being ordered in quantities of four, six and even 10. This begs the question as to why offshore vessel operators are order record number of vessels if the business is sluggish? The answer is two fold: Deep water and deep gas. Drilling activity is bound to increase based on these two factors industry leaders believe.