Pittman And Associates News

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…

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.