SENESCO Signs Contract, Launches Barge for Cancer Awareness Program

Southeastern New England Shipbuilding Corporation (SENESCO) of North Kingstown, R.I., signed a major contract with Barges Unlimited, a subsidiary of Seaboats, Inc., of Fall River, Mass., to build an 80,000-bbl, 320-ft. double hull barge. The contract value is in excess of $6.5 million.

With this contract signing, SENESCO will manufacture the largest double-hull barge ever constructed in the northeastern U.S. Work on the project is expected to take up to one year to complete. When finished, the barge will be used by Seaboats for the transportation and delivery of light oil products.

SENESCO currently employs 110 people. However, with the addition of this contract and other business, the shipyard expects to add 40 to 50 new skilled workers to the staff. This represents nearly a 50 percent increase in the company's workforce.

SENESCO began work in the North Kingstown shipyard in the fall of 1999. Since that time the company has completed 21 contracts ranging from small floats to a 165-foot dredge. SENESCO works with the state's Department of Human Services and the Family Independence Program, and has hired 10 shipyard employees through this program. SENESCO plans to continue this practice as it seeks to fill the positions created with this contract.

Additionally at SENESCO, the deck barge Virginia, to be used by the National Cancer Awareness Foundation to raise public consciousness of cancer and its treatment, was recently launched. The barge Virginia was leased to the National Cancer Awareness Foundation by Hughes Bros. of Edison, N.J., to whom SENESCO sold the barge along with a second barge, named Catherine, which is being used as a crane barge. Both barges measure 150 x 60 x 9 ft.

The National Cancer Awareness Foundation is using the barge Virginia for a program entitled Jan's House of Hope. The barge will carry a newly constructed luxury modular home furnished and decorated by Home Magazine on a seven-city tour along the East Coast. VIP parties and public tours of the house will be held at each destination to raise funds for hospices and cancer awareness programs in that city.

Richard Carpenter, senior vice president of SENESCO, said his company was proud to provide a vessel to support such a worthy cause. "Our barges are generally used for traditional marine and commercial purposes," said Carpenter. "It's nice to see that we can also help raise awareness of cancer and its treatment."