Marad awards grants to 24 shipyards

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (Marad) awarded $19.6M in discretionary grants to 24 small shipyards through the Small Shipyard Grant Program. “This $19.6 million federal government investment in the nation’s small shipyards will help maintain the U. S. shipyard infrastructure of our country,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao said in a statement. The program provides funding to assist eligible shipyards to modernize operations, improve efficiency, and reap the benefits of increased productivity by investing in emerging technologies and a highly skilled workforce. The program can also fund training projects that foster employee skills and enhance productivity. U.S. shipyards provide nearly 400,000 jobs, $25B of labor income, and $37.3B to the nation’s GDP. Regional recipients: ALABAMA - Alabama Shipyard of Mobile will receive $571,887 to upgrade four travel trucks with new assemblies on 150‐ton portal crane; and Blakely BoatWorks of Mobile, a full-service shipyard focused on new construction and marine repair projects, will receive $379,408 for a 500-ton press brake, welding machines, overhead cranes, and man lifts. LOUISIANA - C&C Marine and Repair of Belle Chasse, which provides general steel repairs on inland barges, will receive $979,638 for a 275‐ton crawler crane; and Cooper Consolidated of Convent, La., which provides midstream stevedoring, barge, marine, and logistics services, will receive $1.2M for a 620‐ton Marine Travelift boat hoist. MISSISSIPPI - VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, which provides ship design, construction, repair and conversion, and maintenance and support, will receive $1.7M for a 1,250‐ton press brake. (Source: Work Boat 04/20/20) https://www.workboat.com/news/shipbuilding/20-million-in-small-shipyard-grants-awarded/