Phil Bryant News

The MSPA Board of Commissioners along with Gov. Phil Bryant and local officials marked the beginning of a new era today at the Port of Gulfport with the “Blessing of the Cranes” event. The arrival of the cranes was a momentous milestone in the Port’s Restoration Project and the blessing celebrates the progress made on the West Pier and the individuals and organizations who have contributed to its overall success. The three gantry cranes, which arrived in Gulfport this past March, were welcomed with much excitement and fanfare.

Edison Chouest Offshore locating shipbuilding operations, TopShip, LLC, in Gulfport, Miss. Gov. Phil Bryant and officials from Edison Chouest Offshore, an offshore energy service and supply company, officially announced today the company is locating shipbuilding operations at the Port of Gulfport in Gulfport, Miss. The project represents a $68 million corporate investment and will create 1,000 full-time jobs. Edison Chouest Offshore’s new Gulfport operations, TopShip, LLC, will be located at the Port of Gulfport’s new inland port on Seaway Road.

The Mississippi State Port Authority was notified by the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) that the Port of Gulfport has been designated as a Strategic Seaport by the Commander, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC). With this designation, America’s military will be able to utilize the Port of Gulfport for cargo and equipment shipments. This announcement adds to South    Mississippi’s extensive military installations and capabilities. This designation is an important step in the Port of Gulfport’s long-range strategy to become one of the country’s top-tier diversified ports. The Port’s revitalization efforts include the $570million restoration and expansion project…

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant visited Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division May 28 to participate in a ceremonial signing of a $20 million bond bill supporting Ingalls' "Shipyard of the Future" project. The investment will go toward current building improvements, new covered facilities providing better work areas for shipbuilders, and enabling more work to be accomplished out of the weather. The infrastructure improvements also include a new dry dock that will allow Ingalls to translate and launch ships from various locations in the shipyard.

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant visited Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding facility, meeting with shipyard officials on workforce development and training initiatives and touring Ingalls' Maritime Training Academy, the company announced. "Mississippi is home to the greatest shipbuilders in the world and builds the most technologically advanced warships on the planet," Bryant said. "Workforce development is critical to ensuring Mississippians are prepared for skilled manufacturing jobs like those at Ingalls.

The fourth Houston Shipping and Offshore Conference has announced the final program for its Friday, October 10 conference at the Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, 111 N. Post Oak Lane, Houston. This year’s program is centered on the theme, “Challenges & Opportunities for Shipping & Offshore - Looking Forward”. Organized by the Consulates General of Brazil, Korea and Norway, with support from NACC, KEPS and BRATECC, respective Chambers of Commerce, HSOC brings together business executives and industry experts to discuss pressing issues of the shipping and offshore industries. HSOC looks at factors that are driving these industries and what issues and opportunities lay in the future for companies looking for insights and a competitive edge.

Huntington Ingalls Industries authenticated the keel today for the future multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7). The warship is under construction at the company's Ingalls Shipbuilding division and was officially authenticated by its sponsor, Lynne Mabus, wife of U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, and Steve Senk, an HII employee who was awarded the Silver Star for his actions to save the second USS Tripoli (LPH 10) after the ship struck a mine during Operation Desert Storm. Secretary Mabus paid tribute to the Ingalls shipbuilders during his remarks. "Today, we have 100 ships forward-deployed around the world," he said. "They're out there standing the watch, protecting this country. They're a long way from home.

Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division officially opened the company's brand-new, 70,000 square-foot Haley Reeves Barbour Maritime Training Academy today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The building, named for the former Mississippi governor, will serve as the training epicenter for Ingalls' apprentice program and will also help bolster the number of students. "Today symbolizes the state's commitment to workforce development and skills training for all of our working people so they can get better, higher-paying jobs," Barbour said.

Nearly 300 new Ingalls Shipbuilding employees receive a right royal welcome into the workforce. The new employees were welcomed by Governor Phil Bryant, Ingalls Shipbuilding President Irwin Edenzon and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College President Mary Graham during an apprentice graduation ceremony at the Biloxi Civic Center. The 295 graduates trained at Ingalls' Pascagoula, Gulfport and Avondale facilities as well as at area community colleges. "You've overcome challenges, met your commitments, and persevered," Edenzon said. Edenzon said the graduates are laying the groundwork to build not only Ingalls' future -- Pascagoula needs up to 2,000 new workers for the shipyard in the next 12 months -- but their own.

The Navy's newest addition to the submarine force was commissioned June 2, in its namesake state. USS Mississippi (SSN 782), the ninth Virginia-class attack submarine, joined the fleet following a commissioning ceremony held at the Port of Pascagoula. More than 7,500 people braved the typical tropical Mississippi weather to witness the ceremony in Pascagoula, while others viewed it live on the Internet. Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, a native Mississippian and former governor of the state was the ceremony's keynote speaker. He enthusiastically welcomed Mississippi to the fleet.