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Vt Halter Marine, Inc News

09 Feb 2023

The U.S. Navy Needs More Ships, Encourages Industry to "Pick up the Pace"

Bryce Woolston cleans up welds on the Virginia-class attack submarine USS Delaware (SSN 791) at HII Newport News Shipbuilding. (HII photo by Chris Oxley)

The demand for warships is strong, and the Navy continues to receive support from the Congress to build more ships. The Navy is working to achieve a fleet of about 355 ships, plus a fleet of about 150 unmanned vesselsBut to achieve something close to that goal requires more than demand, and even more than money. For one thing, it requires an industrial base that can build, repair and sustain that fleet.While Navy leadership acknowledges the challenges of a stressed supply chainā€¦

07 Nov 2022

Bollinger to Acquire VT Halter Marine

(File photo: VT Halter Marine)

Lockport, La. based Bollinger Shipyards announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Pascagoula, Miss. shipbuilder VT Halter Marine, Inc. and neighboring repair yard ST Engineering Halter Marine Offshore (STEHMO) from parent company ST Engineering North America, the U.S. subsidiary of Singaporean multinational technology, defense and engineering group ST Engineering.The transaction, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022, is said to be worth $15 million, according to ST Engineering.

15 Sep 2020

Gulf Copper Wins Contract to Refurbish NOAA's Henry B. Bigelow

NOAA research vessel Henry Bigelow (Photo: NOAA)

Texas-based Gulf Copper and Manufacturing said it has been awarded a $3.9 million dry docking and refurbishment of the NOAA research vessel Henry B. Bigelow. The work will be performed at Gulf Copper's Galveston yard.Commissioned in 2007 and homeported in Newport, R.I., Henry B. Bigelow is a fisheries survey vessel that studies a wide range of marine life and ocean conditions along the U.S. East Coast, primarily from Maine to North Carolina. The ship's main mission is to study and monitor fish stocksā€¦

15 Jun 2020

Merchent Named CEO of VT Halter Marine

(File photo: VT Halter Marine)

ST Engineering North America, Inc. announced Monday that Robert "Bob" L. Merchent has been named President and CEO of VT Halter Marine, Inc. He replaces outgoing President and CEO, Ron Baczkowski.Much of Merchent's career was spent at Ingalls Shipbuilding, where he advanced through multiple positions of ever-increasing responsibility, leading programs critical to both the business and the U.S. Navy, culminating his career there as the Vice President, Surface Combatants, Fleet Services and U.S.

18 May 2020

Halter Marine Cuts Steel for US Navy Berthing Barge

Pascagoula, Miss. shipbuilder VT Halter Marine Inc., a company of ST Engineering North America, said it has cut first steel for the fourth Auxiliary Personnel Lighterā€“Small (APL(S)) that the company is designing and building for the U.S. Navy. The contract award is $39,906,609 for a firm, fixed-price option for the detail design and construction of the vessel.Halter Marine is currently constructing the first three APLs. In September 2018, the company received the initial contract to design and build two units, with options for four additional units. Construction on the fourth vessel is expected to be complete in the summer of 2021. The company expects to deliver the first two APLs this fallā€¦

19 Feb 2020

Younger Wins Engineering Award

Buck Younger, third from left, was named the Marine Engineer/Naval Architect of the Year. Attending the awards presentation were VT Halter Marineā€™s Alvin Erkhart, Vice President of Production, Kevin Amis, Executive Vice President of Operations, and Rob Mullins, Deputy President. (Photo: VT Halter)

Buck Younger, Vice President of Engineering with VT Halter Marine, was named the Marine Engineer/Naval Architect of the Year by the Mobile Area Council of Engineers (MACE). VT Halter Marine, Inc. (VT Halter Marine), is a company of ST Engineering North America. VT Halter Marine also sponsored the two MACE scholarship winners.In April 2019, VT Halter Marine announced that the U.S. Department of the Navy awarded the company as the prime contractor of a $745,940,860 fixed-price incentive-firm contract for the detail design and construction of the U.S.

23 Jan 2020

US Icebreaker Polar Star Reaches Antarctica

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star breaks ice Jan. 16, 2020, near the ice pier of McMurdo Station, Antarctica. (U.S. Coast Guard photo NyxoLyno Cangemi)

The U.S. Coast Guard's sole heavy icebreaker arrived January 22 at McMurdo Station, following a 58-day transit from the United States. Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) departed itsā€™ homeport of Seattle on November 26.This year marks the Polar Starā€™s 23rd journey to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze, an annual joint military service mission to resupply the United States Antarctic stations, in support of the National Science Foundation, the lead agency for the United States Antarctic Program.The 399-footā€¦

01 Oct 2019

VT Halter, Q-LNG Name First LNG ATB

Members of the U.S. Navy Seabees Color Guard present colors at the Q-LNG 4000 naming ceremony at VT Halter Marine (Photo: VT Halter Marine)

VT Halter Marine, Inc., a ST Engineering North America company, held a vessel naming ceremony for Americaā€™s first offshore Liquefied Natural Gas Articulated Tug and Barge (LNG ATB) unit.The Q-LNG 4000 (barge) and the Q-Ocean Services (tug) were officially named in a ceremony that included U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, along with Shane Guidry, CEO of Q-LNG, and Tom Vecchiolla, President and CEO of ST Engineering North America.Over the last four yearsā€¦

15 Aug 2019

Shipbuilding Interview: Ron Baczkowski, VT Halter

Ronald Baczkowski is the President and Chief Executive Officer of VT Halter Marine, Inc.

VT Halter in Pascagoula, MS has been on a strong run, capped by its winning the high-profile contract to build the U.S. Coast Guardā€™s next generation of icebreakers. Maritime Reporter recently spoke with Ron Baczkowski, President and CEO, VT Halter Marine, for insights on the shipyardā€™s recent success and future prospects. Globally, the shipbuilding industry has gone through some ā€˜interestingā€™ times of late. How has it looked from your perspective?The shipbuilding market and activity at VT Halter during the past 12 months has been dynamic.

11 Jul 2019

VT Halter Wins U.S. Navy 'Champ' Contract

An aerial overview of VT Halter's sprawling Gulf Coast shipbuilding operations. (CREDIT: VT Halter)

VT Halter Marine, Inc. (VT Halter Marine), a company of ST Engineering North America, has won a contract worth nearly $2.9 million by the Naval Sea Systems Command.VT Halter Marine was one of four U.S.-based companies awarded a contract under the Common Hull Auxiliary Mission Platform ā€“ called CHAMP. VT Halter Marineā€™s contract win is $2,899,252.In 2018, the Navy implemented the CHAMP study to find a replacement for several types of auxiliary ships that are rapidly approaching the ends of their service lives ā€“ hospital shipsā€¦

18 Jun 2019

VT Halter Commences Construction of USN Berthing Vessels

Attending the keel laying ceremony are representatives from the American Bureau of Shipping, SupShips Gulf Coast and VT Halter Marine.

VT Halter Marine Inc (VT Halter Marine), a company of ST Engineering North America, Inc. (STENA), laid the keel to signify the commencement of construction for two Auxiliary Personnel Lighter ā€“ Small (APL(S)) berthing barges it is building for the U.S. Navy.The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) awarded VT Halter Marine a $77.9 million contract to design and build two firm units of the new class of berthing barges in September 2018, with options for another four. The first of these four options was exercised in February 2019ā€¦

17 Jun 2019

USCG's New Polar Security Cutter to Homeport in Seattle

The U.S. Coast Guard said that Seattle, Wash. will be the home of the serviceā€™s new Polar Security Cutters.ā€œI am pleased to announce that Seattle, Washington will be the home of the Coast Guardā€™s new Polar Security Cutters,ā€ said Admiral Karl L. Schultz, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.  ā€œThe Pacific Northwest has been the home of our icebreaking fleet since 1976, and I am confident that the Seattle area will continue to provide the support we need to carry out our critical operations in the polar regions.ā€In April 2019, VT Halter Marine, Inc. of Pascagoula, Miss., was awarded a contract for the detail design and construction of the Coast Guardā€™s Polar Security Cutter class.

30 Apr 2019

USCG VADM Fagan Weighs in on Arctic Plans

 U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Senior Chief Petty Officer NyxoLyno Cangemi

The U.S. Coast Guardā€™s Pacific Area commander discussed the serviceā€™s new Arctic Strategic Outlook, Polar Security Cutters and innovation efforts to improve maritime domain awareness in the high latitudes April 26, 2019, during the Arctic Encounter Symposium in Seattle.During her keynote speech at the symposium, Vice Adm. Linda Fagan said, ā€œThe tyranny of distance and the harsh Arctic climate pose significant challenges to agencies charged with providing maritime safety and security to all Americans, including the hundreds of villages and thousands of seasonal workers in the U.S.

29 Apr 2019

Coast Guard Discusses Developing Arctic Role

U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Senior Chief Petty Officer NyxoLyno Cangemi

The U.S. Coast Guard's Pacific Area commander discussed the service's new Arctic Strategic Outlook, Polar Security Cutters and innovation efforts to improve maritime domain awareness in the high latitudes Friday during the Arctic Encounter Symposium in Seattle.During her keynote speech at the symposium, Vice Adm. Linda Fagan said, ā€œThe tyranny of distance and the harsh Arctic climate pose significant challenges to agencies charged with providing maritime safety and security to all Americans, including the hundreds of villages and thousands of seasonal workers in the U.S.

23 Apr 2019

VT Halter Wins Historic $746m CG Contract

VT Halter in Pascagoula, MS, won a $746m contract to build the U.S. Coast Guard's lead Polar Security Cutter. Photo: VT Halter.

VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, MS has emerged the victor in one of the most prized and coveted shipbuilding contracts in recent memory, a $746m deal to build the Coast Guard's lead Polar Security Cutter. If two additional ship options are exercised, the total deal could approach $2B.The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy, through an Integrated Program Office (IPO), awarded VT Halter Marine Inc., of Pascagoula, Mississippi, a fixed price incentive (firm) contract for the Detail Design and Construction (DD&C) of the Coast Guardā€™s lead Polar Security Cutter (PSC).

15 Mar 2019

Bouchard Takes Delivery of Yet another ATB Unit

M/V Evening Breeze

Bouchard Transportation Co. announced the delivery of ATB unit M/V Evening Breeze and Barge No. 252 (B. No. 252), respectively, from VT Halter Marine Inc. (VT Halter Marine) and Bollinger Shipyards.M/V Evening Breeze left VT Halter Marineā€™s Pascagoula Shipyard facility on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, and will meet and pair up with B. No. 252 before sailing to join Bouchardā€™s fleet service in New York.The Evening Breeze is 4,000hp meeting U.S. EPA-Tier 4 requirements, measuring 112 feet by 35 feet by 17 feet, and equipped with an Intercon Coupler System.

19 Dec 2018

Crowley Takes Delivery of Second LNG-Powered ConRo Ship

Photo courtesy of Crowley Maritime

Crowley Maritime Corp. has taken delivery of Taíno ā€“ the second of two of the worldā€™s first combination container/roll on-roll off (ConRo) ships powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) ā€“ from shipbuilder VT Halter Marine Inc., of Pascagoula, Miss.Taíno will soon join sister ship El Coquí, which was delivered in July, in providing fast, reliable and environmentally friendly shipping and logistics services between Jacksonville, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico. This major milestone marks the final chapter in construction of Crowleyā€™s $550 million investment in the two newly builtā€¦

10 Dec 2018

GREAT WORKBOATS: The Very Best 10 of 2018

MarineNews showcases the ten best of North Americaā€™s 2018 workboat deliveries. Domestic shipyard production is robust, innovative and getting greener. And, that translates into two kinds of ā€˜green.ā€™As the domestic offshore energy support sector slowly awakens, other sectors have been happy to take the spotlight in its absence. As always, and if a hull was delivered in 2018, we took a look at it, with several areas as a focus for inclusion into this edition. For my part, Iā€™m always excited when the U.S. boatbuilding sector can deliver for a foreign buyer. Weā€™ve checked that box here. And, thatā€™s because we can compete on price, quality and when we doā€¦

09 Nov 2018

VT Halter Marine Launches Bouchard ATB Tug

The ocean-going petroleum barge company Bouchard Transportation said that ATB tug M/V Evening Breeze was launched at US-based medium-sized ships builder VT Halter Marine's Pascagoula shipyard.The launch of the M/V Evening Breeze marks a milestone achievement in Bouchardā€™s most recent expansion efforts; with the launch of sister ATB tug M/V Evening Stroll not far behind.Bouchardā€™s Safety First philosophy remains at the forefront of their operation, and is powerfully supported through VT Halter Marine, Inc.ā€™s ability to help advance their fleet with the most innovative technologies.Bouchard is dedicated to offering a safe work environment for their crew and a reliable service to their customersā€¦

01 Nov 2018

VT Halter Wins Navy Deal

VT Halter Marine, Inc. announced the award for detailed design and construction (DD&C) for two Firm and up to four Optional Auxiliary Personnel Lighter Small APL-67 Class berthing barges by the U. S. Department of the Navy. These vessels were awarded to VT Halter Marine September 17th, 2018 in response to the Limited Competition Solicitation N00024-17-R-2230.Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has awarded both APL-67 and APL-68 to VT Halter Marine with deliveries for the vessels anticipated for the second and third calendar quarter of 2020, respectively. Should the Navy exercise all of the options to purchase the remaining four vessels (i.e.: APL Vessels 69-72) with associated supplies and services, the contract award would be in excess of $244 million.

11 Sep 2018

VT Halter to Build ATB Tug for Bouchard

The new tug will be a sister vessel to the Denise A. Bouchard, pictured (Photo: VT Halter Marine)

Mississippi shipbuilder VT Halter Marine, Inc. said it has secured a new contract to build an articulated tug barge (ATB) tug with an option for a second vessel for Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc.Construction of the new vessel, M/V Evening Stroll, begins immediately at the builderā€™s Pascagoula, Miss. shipyard, with delivery scheduled for December 2019. This vessel will enter into Bouchardā€™s fleet service in New York, N.Y to transport liquid petroleum products throughout theā€¦

29 Aug 2018

Q-LNG, VTHM Execute LOI for Another LNG Bunkering Vessel

Quality Liquefied Natural Gas Transport, LLC (ā€œQ-LNGā€) announced its further commitment to support the cruise line industry and its liquefied natural gas (ā€œLNGā€) marine fueling needs by executing a letter of intent (ā€œLOIā€) with VT Halter Marine, Inc. (ā€œVT Halterā€) to construct an 8,000m3 LNG Bunkering Vessel on speculation.CEO, Shane Guidry, commented, ā€œWith the past and recent announcements by major cruise lines to build and deliver LNG powered cruise ships to the U.S. market, Q-LNG is committed to deliver the safest, most cost effective solution to the cruise line industry.ā€This contract represents a continuation of Q-LNGā€™s commitment to developing LNG fueling infrastructure in North America.

13 Aug 2018

VT Halter Launches New Ferry for Virginia

Powhatam (Photo: VT Halter Marine)

Mississippi shipbuilder VT Halter Marine, Inc. has launched a new ferry, Powhatam, for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).In November 2016, VT Halter Marine was awarded the contract for the design, construction and delivery of the new 499-passenger/70-vehicle ferry that will replace the current vessel, the Virginia, which was built in 1936. The new ferry Powhatam, measuring 270ft x 65ft x 15ft, is capable of holding up to 70 passenger vehicles, or 14 trucks/busesā€¦

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