FUNDING BOOST TO SMALLER US YARDS

The new tranche of Federal support overseen by the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) is distributed among 31 yards in 15 states, and entails individual allocations ranging from $126,000 to approximately $1.4m. The funding is made under the Small Shipyard Grant Program, covering capital expenditure on equipment and investment in skills training.

The roll-out of the latest subventions targeted at the country’s extensive network of smaller enterprises, many of which are family-owned, continues a policy introduced 13 years ago. “These grants will help small businesses do what they do best: build essential infrastructure while creating long-term jobs for American workers,” said acting maritime administrator Lucinda Lessley. “Better equipment means increased productivity and more ships moving through our small shipyards—and more ships means more local jobs.”

The purchase of US-made manufacturing equipment and systems made possible by Small Shipyard grants also benefits the wider industrial economy.

Among the largest single allocations under the $19.6m package, the South Carolina firm Stevens Towing Co of Yonges Island will receive some $1.38m towards the purchase of an 820t-capacity travelift, to boost operations at its North Yard. St Johns Ship Building has qualified for $1.34m in connection with construction of a 2,000t drydock at its premises in Palatka, Florida, while Bollinger Marine Fabricators of Amelia, Louisiana, has been granted $1.12m to support the acquisition of a blast and paint plate preservation line machine.

Approximately $983,000 has been approved for Heartland Fabrication of Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in connection with the purchase of a robotic welding system, while some $956,000 is going to Lyon Shipyard of Norfolk, Virginia, towards a 15t bridge crane, electric substations, switchboards and other electrical upgrades.

The greatest number of awards, involving 14 of the 31 recipient yards, entail amounts in the $400,000-$700,000 band.

Philly Shipyard, a company that would not normally be identified with the “small shipyard” league, will receive $720,000 under the scheme. MARAD said the funding would “support the resumption of a comprehensive three-year apprentice training program that will strengthen its workforce and increase the efficiency of shipbuilding operations.”

After a very lean spell, which led to substantial downsizing of the payroll, Philly’s success last year in landing construction contracts for MARAD’s new generation of national security multi-mission/training ships means that activity is being ramped-up across all departments.

Since introduction in 2008, MARAD’s Small Shipyard Grant Program has paid out $262.5m to nearly 300 yards. Allocations are limited to 75% of estimated costs, and to yards with fewer than 1,200 production employees.