Conrad Announces Contracts, Deliveries
Conrad Industries, Inc. announced the signing of contracts for the construction of ten vessels totaling $32.3 million and delivery of three vessels in recent months. Offshore Marine Contractors has executed contracts for three 175 foot class 110'x64.5'x9' liftboats, similar to previous liftboats built by Conrad. W.C. Fore Trucking, McCleary Offshore Construction and Inland Barge Rentals have executed contracts for the construction of deck barges that range in size from 120'x30'x7' to 210'x72'x14'. Settoon Towing signed a contract for two 6,500 bbl. inland double skin barges that will be certified for crude oil service. In addition Foss Maritime Company signed a contract for two 26,000 bbl. double skin barges that will be equipped as bunkering barges for their west coast operations.
U.S. Shipbuilding 2003: A Congested Attempt to Fund
Meeting national transportation needs during the current decade should involve a surfeit of new contracts for our domestic shipbuilders. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) mandates double hulls for all vessels engaged in U.S. petroleum carriage. In our non-contiguous trades, renewal programs are needed for the replacement aging container and RoRo fleets. Moving freight containers and trailers on RoRo barges and vessels, and moving people on passenger and passenger-vehicle high speed ferries, provide the obvious solutions to traffic congestion in the population corridors served by at least two of our Interstate highways. Some of these vessel needs are now immediate because of private sector decisions to postpone projects.
