The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (Marad) announced today it had awarded $19.6 million in grants to 31 small shipyards in 15 states through the Small Shipyard Grant Program.
The funds will help these small shipyards modernize, increase productivity, and expand local employment opportunities while competing in the global marketplace. Since 2008, Marad’s Small Shipyard Grant Program has awarded $262.5 million to nearly 300 shipyards in 32 states and territories throughout the U.S.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and small shipyards play a critical role in America’s maritime industry,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “These grants go directly to small shipyards across the country and will help protect and create local jobs, strengthen America’s maritime industry, and bolster our economic security.”
Small shipyards are essential parts of our maritime industrial base and employ thousands of Americans. They strengthen communities along and near our nation’s ports and waterways, Marad said. Many small shipyards are family-run businesses and they are all enterprises in which small investments can make big differences.
Marad’s Small Shipyard Grant Program supports economic competitiveness through grants that can be used to purchase equipment or train employees. In addition, the purchase of U.S.-made manufacturing equipment made possible by these grants supports a wide range of jobs throughout our nation’s manufacturing base, Marad said.
“These grants will help small businesses do what they do best: build essential infrastructure while creating long-term jobs for American workers,” said Lucinda Lessley, acting Maritime Administrator. “Better equipment means increased productivity and more ships moving through our small shipyards—and more ships mean more local jobs.”
A complete list of shipyard grant recipients follows:
ALABAMA
Master Boat Builders Inc., Coden, Ala., will receive $497,464 to support the purchase of two 30-ton mobile cranes and two extendable boom forklifts.
Steiner Shipbuilding Inc., Bayou La Batre, AL, will receive $419,507 to support the purchase of a forklift, 300-ton press brake, manlift, and other equipment that will improve the efficiency of ship construction and repair activities at the facility.
ALASKA
JAG Alaska Inc. Seward Shipyard, Seward, Alaska, will receive $639,712 for a 100-ton grove hydraulic crane.
CALIFORNIA
Bay City Marine, National City, Calif., will receive $738,990 to support the purchase of a mobile crane.
Bay Ship & Yacht Co., Alameda, Calif., will receive $759,419 to support the purchase of a mobile crane, welding equipment, and electric boom lifts.
Marine Group Boat Works LLC, Chula Vista, Calif., will receive $524,058 to purchase air compressors and launch an in-house welder training program.
CONNECTICUT
The Thames Shipyard & Repair Company Inc., New London, Conn., will receive $438,690 to support the purchase of surface preparation equipment and air compressors.
FLORIDA
Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc., Panama City, Fla., will receive $522,318. These funds will support the purchase of several pieces of equipment that will improve the efficiency of ship construction and repair activities at the facility.
St. Johns Boat Company, Jacksonville, Fla., will receive $221,175 to support the acquisition and installation of a hybrid blast and paint building manlift.
St. Johns Ship Building Inc., Palatka, Fla., will receive $1,342,724 to support the construction of a 2,000-ton drydock.
LOUISIANA
Bollinger Marine Fabricators, Amelia, La., will receive $1,122,216 to support the purchase of a blast and paint plate preservation line machine.
C&C Marine and Repair LLC, Belle Chasse, La., will receive $748,959 in funding to support the purchase of welding enhancements and additional forklifts.
Conrad Shipyard, Amelia, LA, will receive $432,376 to support the purchase of two portable shelters for a Fabrication/Pipe work area and a Blast/Paint work area.
Gulf Island Shipyards LLC, Houma, LA, will receive $312,802 in funding to add automated pipe spool welding to its pipe spooling/fabrication shop.
MASSACHUSETTS
Blue Atlantic Fabricators Inc., Boston, will receive $692,826 to support the purchase of an abrasive blast machine and conveyor, electrical upgrades, paint booth, and two gantry cranes.
Boston Ship Repair, Boston, will receive $598,200 to support the upgrade of power distribution equipment.
MISSISSIPPI
Omega Shipyard Inc., Moss Point, Miss., will receive $126,105 to support the purchase of a telescoping forklift and blasting pot.
NEW JERSEY
Hughes Bros. Inc., Edison, N.J., will receive $264,510 to support the purchase of two welding machines and power sources, a 6,000-lb vertical mast forklift, four 10,000-lb capacity mega pipe rollers and several other equipment pieces.
NEW YORK
Metalcraft Marine US Inc., Watertown, N.Y., will receive $554,237 to support the purchase of a computer numerical control (CNC) cutting table, three rotating jig positions, and a blasting booth.
PENNSYLVANNIA
Heartland Fabrication LLC, Brownsville, Pa., will receive $982,954 to support the purchase of a robotic welding system creating new job opportunities for robotic welding technicians.
Philly Shipyard Inc., Philadelphia, will receive $720,000 to support the resumption of a comprehensive three-year apprentice training program that will strengthen its workforce and increase the efficiency of shipbuilding operations.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Stevens Towing Co. Inc., Yonges Island, S.C., will receive $1,378,575 to support the purchase of an 820-metric ton travelift allowing the shipyard to expand work in their new zero-emissions North Yard.
TEXAS
MBLH Marine LLC, dba Vessel Repair, Port Arthur, Texas, will receive $588,812 to support the purchase of a 110-ton crawler crane.
VIRGINIA
Lyon Shipyard, Norfolk, Va., will receive $958,695 to support the purchase of a 15-ton bridge crane, 12 electrical substations, two waterproof switchboards, and other electrical upgrades and equipment.
Marine Hydraulics International LLC, Norfolk, Va., will receive $897,853 to support the purchase of a 100-ton telescopic boom hydraulic truck mounted crane and a waterjet cutting table.
Tecnico Corp., Chesapeake, Va., will receive $573,940 to support the purchase of a telescopic boom hydraulic truck crane and other equipment that will increase overall shipyard productivity.
WASHINGTON
BRIX Marine, Port Angeles, Wash., will receive $342,318 in funding to purchase a CNC router table and support equipment.
Everett Ship Repair LLC, Everett, Wash., will receive $731,385 to support the purchase of a new drydocks containment system, water blasting equipment and air compressors.
Lake Union Drydock Co., Seattle, will receive $684,127 to support the construction of a new drydock basin passageway and the acquisition of an additional air compressor, air dryer and large capacity forklift.
Pacific Fishermen Shipyard and Electric LLC, Seattle, will receive $556,308 to support rail enhancement, lift dock conversions, and paint area improvements.
Stabbert Marine & Industrial LLC, Seattle, will receive $228,745 to support the purchase of an eight-ton heavy-duty forklift, articulated boom lift, welding equipment and other equipment that will significantly improve the efficiency of ship construction and repair activities at their facility.
