Bollinger Shipyards announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire VT Halter Marine, Inc. and ST Engineering Halter Marine Offshore (“STEHMO”), the yard that will be building the US Coast Guard’s new Polar Security Cutter.
Bollinger said the transaction would expand its new construction and repair capacity and capabilities to better serve its key defense and commercial customers.
All ongoing programs are to be conveyed with the transaction, the company said. Notably, the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program for the US Coast Guard and the Auxiliary Personnel Lighter-Small (APL(S)) program for the US Navy. Given the proximity to Bollinger’s existing facilities in Lockport, Louisiana, the company said it would be able to support further efficiencies and resolution of any potential capacity constraints.
In addition to construction of the US Coast Guard Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter (FRC) program, Bollinger builds the Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vessel (MCM USV) and the Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ships (T-ATS) programs for the US Navy, as well as the Regional Class Research Vessel for the National Science Foundation and Oregon State University.
Bollinger also has two active contracts with General Dynamics Electric Boat to build a 618 ft by 140 ft floating dry dock and a 496 ft by 95 ft pontoon launcher, both of which will support the construction and launching of the US Navy’s Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines.
In addition, Bollinger is participating in industry studies for two government programs, including the US Navy’s Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle (LUSV) program and the US Navy’s Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) program.
“The addition of VT Halter Marine and STEHMO in Pascagoula, Mississippi is strategic as it further strengthens our position in the industry and US defense industrial base by allowing Bollinger to expand our footprint, capabilities and suite of innovative solutions that we can provide to our customers,” said Ben Bordelon, CEO and President of Bollinger Shipyards.
“Bollinger takes great pride in being a major job creator in Louisiana. Today, we’re excited to grow and expand that legacy to Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. We have always said that our greatest strength has and continues to be our people,” Bordelon continued.
The acquisition includes 378 acres comprising 2 shipyards in Pascagoula and two dormant yards north of Pascagoula. The newly acquired yards will be renamed Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding and Bollinger Mississippi Repair.
The Pascagoula facilities are strategically located with direct, deep-water access to the Gulf of Mexico and houses corporate office space, engineering, fabrication, warehousing and a foreign trade zone.
The shipyard consists of 225,000 square feet of covered production area in the main fabrication assembly buildings. The facility is capable of producing Panamax-sized vessels up to 50,000 DWT and features an expanded 225.6m (740ft) tilt-beam launch system.
