MN100: Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. is located on the Southwestern coast of Alabama, about 30 miles from Mobile. Designing, building and repairing ships, boats, and barges up to 300’ in length and 1500 tons, Horizon’s customer base includes tug and barge operators, the offshore oil industry, cruise and diving industry, and specialized craft for domestic and foreign governments. The firm has 250 employees and has annual sales of $40,000,000.00

Horizon was founded in 1997 by a father-and-son team who bring more than 60 years combined experience in ship design, construction, operation, maintenance and repair. The combined Horizon facilities include 30 fenced acres, with additional 3 acres for parking adjacent to 150’ wide, a 20’ deep waterway and a 180’ X 50’ X 20’ deep slip for launching and retrieving vessels with 660-ton Travelift. Seven steel buildings for fabrication and construction are complemented by 12 overhead cranes. A turning basin for compass and electronic adjustments adjacent to shipyard is situated just minutes from the Gulf of Mexico.

Horizon Shipbuilding continues to add contracts. Several towboats are under construction for Florida Marine Transporters, continuing this nearly decade-long business relationship, along with a multi-unit build of ship assist tugs for McAllister Towing. Steel will be cut for an additional vessel shortly and repair jobs continue to keep the shipyard busy. Horizon developed management software, Gordhead, to improve efficiency in shipyard projects. Not only has productivity significantly improved, schedules are being shortened, resulting in on-time deliveries. Gordhead has won two innovation awards and is now available for sale to other manufacturers.

(As published in the August 2016 MN100 edition of Marine News)