Coastal Transportation Equipment Market News

American Commercial Lines Inc. announced it has secured a $30 million multi-year contract with Statia Terminals New Jersey, Inc., a division of Valero, LP to build ABS certified ocean tank barges. Construction at Jeffboat LLC, a division of ACL, will start in the fourth quarter of 2006 for deliveries in 2007 and 2008. Commenting on the order, Jerry Linzey, SVP Manufacturing stated, "The addition of Valero, the largest refiner in North America, as a customer is a significant accomplishment. We continue to diversify our business with the increased presence in the coastal transportation equipment market which not only broadens our product offering but also begins to insulate the shipyard from the cyclicality of the inland barge construction market.