ESG recovering from Michael

Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla., was among the Florida Panhandle communities to get hit hardest by Hurricane Michael on Oct. 10. The company is focusing on helping its employees recover. ESG’s two major shipyards are based in Bay County, which was declared a major disaster area. The company’s Allanton shipyard is located a few miles west of Mexico Beach, Fla., where Hurricane Michael made landfall. ESG and suppliers are assisting employees with meals on-site and essentials for their families. ESG is bringing in temporary accommodations for a number of workers and offering an interest-free loan program to all direct-hire hourly employees. Eastern is also working closely with governmental officials and contractors to restore power, water and communication at both shipyard facilities while also repairing damages in order to get the shipyards fully operational as soon as possible. “As a family-owned business, we consider our employees … our first priority,” said ESG President Joey D’Isernia. (Source: Work Boat 10/20/18) ESG announced in September - 12 days before the hurricane - that the Coast Guard exercised the fixed-price, incentive option on its Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) contract to build the lead OPC, USCGC Argus (WMSM-915). In conjunction, the CG also exercised the firm fixed price option for Long Lead Time Materials for OPC #2, USCGC Chase (WMSM-916).