Continuous Flow Manufacturing News

Signal invests $40m in Orange, TX shipyard; Building ATBs currently for Kirby Ocean Tranporation Co. A ubiquitous presence in the Gulf of Mexico ship construction and repair market is Mobile, Ala.-based Signal International, a Marine and Fabrication company which employs about 1800 in its four production facilities across Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. Signal specializes in new construction, ship repair, and rig repair. Signal can handle marine construction and repair needs with three dry docks…

Signal International announced the option to build the second articulated tug/barge (AT/B) vessel has been exercised by Kirby Ocean Transport Company of Houston, Texas. Signal’s state-of-the-art continuous flow manufacturing facility in Orange, Texas now has a backlog of nearly $100M. Engineering, planning and material procurement for the first AT/B is on schedule for manufacturing work to begin in the fourth quarter of this year. Simultaneously, fabrication of the second unit is also slated to get underway before year’s end. The AT/B vessels are comprised of a 20,000 DWT ocean bulk barge with a 6,000 BHP AT/B ocean tug. Each barge measures 480 ft x 90 ft x 36 ft and will be outfitted with Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering’s Articouple connection.

Signal International has been awarded a $47M contract by Kirby Ocean Transport Company of Houston, Texas, to build an articulated tug/barge (AT/B) unit with an option for an additional unit. The AT/B vessel is comprised of a 20,000 DWT ocean bulk barge with a 6,000 BHP AT/B ocean tug. The barge will measure 480 ft x 90 ft x 36 ft and will be outfitted with Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering’s Articouple connection. The 6,000 HP tugboat will be 125 ft x 42 ft x 22 ft built and classed to ABS Maltese Cross, +A1 Ocean Towing Service standards. The AT/B will transport dry-bulk commodities in United States coastwise trade. The barge fabrication work will commence in the second quarter of 2011 at Signal’s state-of-the-art continuous flow manufacturing facility in Orange, Texas, which has 450,000 sq.

In the June 2010 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News (www.marinelink.com), we had the opportunity to meet with Richard Marler, Chairman, President and CEO of Signal International, on the sidelines of OTC to discuss his company’s rapid growth and promising future. What is the primary focus of Signal International? RM     Our principal focus is offshore drilling rig and ship overhaul, repair, upgrade and conversion. Additionally, we provide services to the general marine and heavy fabrication markets and are moving into shipbuilding. When and why did you start Signal?

Signal International has been awarded $30m contract by Waller Marine Inc. of Houston, Texas. Under the contract Signal will build and support the outfitting of two 300 ft X 100 ft power barges. Each barge will have a single GE 7FA Gas Turbine and 171 MW generator. Upon completion of the barges Waller Marine will install and operate the units in Venezuela. The barges will be built to ABS classification at Signal’s shipyard in Orange, Texas. Signal recently concluded a three-year transformation of the Orange fabrication facility and shipyard. Nearly $40m has been invested in process improvements and continuous flow manufacturing methods.

Signal International Inc. announced the purchase of the Bender Shipbuilding & Repair assets through a bankruptcy auction. Signal was the winning bidder of the Mobile, Ala. shipyard for $31.2m which is contingent upon approval by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama. “This purchase is consistent with diversifying the company while continuing the focus on our core competency in the overhaul, repair and upgrade of offshore drilling rigs,” said Dick Marler, Signal’s president and chief executive officer. According to  Marler, Signal plans to make an additional investment of about $5m on upgrades and repairs, and  increase employment to 400 to 500 within 18 months.

Signal International, LLC announced that the company will build a 300 ft by 100 ft ocean deck barge for Signet Maritime Corporation. The barge will be built at Signal’s Orange, Texas shipyard, with delivery scheduled for the first quarter 2010. In line with Signal’s marketing plan, large deck barges will be a continued product line for Orange, with multiple designs currently being offered. Signal’s yard in Orange has undergone a major transformation to elevate its marine and heavy manufacturing capability to world-class standards.