Elsa Leigh News

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., has re-delivered the 254-ft. supply boat, Elsa Leigh, to Aries Marine Corp., Lafayette, La. While it looks like a new vessel, Elsa Leigh is the new name for the former Seacor Clipper after an extensive renovation at Bollinger’s Morgan City shipyard. The new name is in honor of Elsa Leigh, the four year-old daughter of Courtney B. Ramsay, vice-president of Aries Marine. “This is the kind of project we love,” said Donald “Boysie” Bollinger, chairman and CEO of Bollinger.

Bollinger Shipyards last month re-delivered the 254-ft. supply boat, Elsa Leigh, to Aries Marine Corp., of Lafayette, La., which is the new name for the former Seacor Clipper following extensive renovation at Bollinger's Morgan City shipyard. The new name is in honor of Elsa Leigh, the four year-old daughter of Courtney B. Ramsay, vice-president of Aries Marine. "This is the kind of project we love," said Donald "Boysie" Bollinger, chairman and CEO of Bollinger. Much of the work involved mechanical systems in the hull and replacement of about 30 percent of the boat's steel. The vessel was brought up to ABS DPS 1, FiFi1 and GMDSS Area 3 certification. Her two main EMD engines were removed and rebuilt by NREC in Houma, La., who boosted their power from 1,250 hp each to 1,500 hp each.

Marcon International, Inc. announced the sale of the 5,000tdw ocean deck barge Mitkof Provider from Alaska Marine Lines of Seattle, Wash., to Island Tug and Barge Co., also of Seattle. The 280’ x 60’ x 17’ barge was originally built in 1969 by Todd Shipyard, Seattle, Wash. as the “Vanliner 280” and after converted and named “Foss 280” served first as the foundation of a 221 man camp for Prudhoe Bay operations in the Arctic and later housed personnel involved in the Exxon Oil Spill Cleanup.. She was sold by Foss in the early – mid’90’s to Alaska Marine Lines who eventually removed the modular housing units and installed a new 7’ high fence and concrete deck with steel “T” beams every 42” allowing the barge to trade as a conventional flat deck barge. Island Tug and Barge Co.

It is no secret that the overwhelming number of marine repair jobs at the nation's shipyards involves regulatory inspections. For example, the 150-ft. supply boat Mary R. Martin was in at Allied Shipyard, Larose, La. in mid-July for ABS and Coast Guard inspection and the change out of a few seals. The boat was dry docked for the inspections and minor repair work, her hull blasted and painted and after a few topside repairs in the slip and more paint work she was back at work. That type of "shave and a haircut" work is typical at Allied and other repair yards, but they are capable of much more complex work that literally extends the life of a vessel by many years. Earlier this year Allied finished a complete work over of the 195-ft. by 40-ft. supply boat Ms.