Bollinger Relocates R&D Department and High Speed Vessel Group

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., will relocate its research and development engineering office from Slidell, La., and shift the Bollinger high-speed vessels group from Lockport, to the James Business Park in St. Rose, La., in October 2004.

Mike Ellis, Bollinger executive vice-president and chief operating officer said, "This new location in St. Rose will not only help us better serve our current shipyards from a design and engineering standpoint, but it will also help us attract potential employees to fill our future growth plans. Its proximity to the New Orleans Airport and UNO's Maritime Center of Excellence will also be beneficial to our business."

The Slidell research and development office, Bollinger Northshore Engineering, about 45 miles east of the new facility, opened about five years ago. It creates and develops innovative design solutions for commercial and government clients. Its staff of naval architects, engineers and designers review market conditions and create conceptual and contract designs. Like the Slidell office, the new St. Rose office will be part of Bollinger’s wide area network providing a seamless integration throughout Bollinger’s 14 shipyards. Its capabilities include: computer lines fairing; design studies; seakeeping; finite element analysis; model testing; proposal management; marketing studies; stability analysis hydrodynamics studies; vessel arrangements, and worldwide regulatory compliance.

Bollinger’s high-speed vessels (BHSV) group supports Bollinger/Incat USA, (www.bollinger-incatusa.com) a strategic alliance between Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., and Incat, Australia (www.incat.com.au) by providing project management, marketing and engineering. Ellis thanked Albert Laque, St. Charles Parish (county) president, Corey Faucheux, economic development director, and the Sealy Companies for attracting Bollinger to the St. Rose industrial park. He said, “The cooperative and professional partnership demonstrated by the parish was one of the key factors in the final location decision.”

Responding to Ellis, Laque said, “I cannot overstate my excitement about Bollinger being our newest corporate citizen. I will do everything I can do to make sure they have a long and prosperous future in St. Charles Parish. “He then thanked the Sealy Companies for their willingness to partner and collaborate on the project saying, “Once again, Sealy has proven to be one of our top economic development allies. We are fortunate to have them on our side.” Established in 1946, the Sealy Companies in Shreveport, La., based real estate management, leasing, development and investment company owns, develops and operates office, retail and industrial properties in Louisiana, Texas, Ohio, Tennessee and Florida.