Metal Shark opens Alabama business

BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. – Louisiana-shipbuilder Metal Shark has announced its entry into the towboat market with a contract to build three 120-foot river towboats for Florida Marine Transporters Inc. of Mandeville, La. The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter “M-compliant towboats were designed by Massachusetts-based John W. Gilbert Associates Inc. and will be powered by twin Cat 3512C Tier 3 marine diesel engines. Construction is underway at Metal Shark-Alabama with deliveries starting next year. The contract signals Metal Shark’s expansion into the steel shipbuilding sector, and formal entry into the inland towboat market following its June acquisition of Horizon Shipbuilding of Bayou La Batre. Metal Shark, best known as a builder of welded aluminum vessels from its yards in Franklin, La., assumed ownership of Horizon’s 35-acre shipyard and announced its intent to expand steel shipbuilding efforts. “The first step in bringing our Alabama facilities online was to implement the technology, production and project management methodologies … perfected during the course of building over 1,000 vessels at our two Louisiana shipbuilding facilities,” said Metal Shark’s CEO Chris Allard. With those systems in place, multiple new steel vessels are under construction and demand for Shark’s refit and repair services. “We can proudly say that Metal Shark Alabama is fully open for business,” said Allard. Metal Shark is recruiting in Alabama and Louisiana to expand its workforce. The company has also fortified its executive management and business development teams. (Source: Metal Shark 10/22/18)