Jackson County Port Authority commissioners recently awarded two contracts that are part of VT Halter Marine’s multimillion-dollar south yard expansion.
The new ship repair facility, to be built at the Bayou Casotte shipyard in Pascagoula, will create about 400 new jobs while diversifying the company’s offerings and increasing its customer base.
A $5.9 million contract went to C.F. Bean LLC for dredging, and a $13.1 million contract went to J.E. Borries Inc. for bulkhead work.
On behalf of the county, the port is serving as project manager for a $20 million Hurricane Katrina-related Community Development Block Grant that the state has put up for the project. The company will contribute up to about $25 million more for the expansion.
In May, a massive 546-foot floating dry dock from the Philippines arrived at the yard. Company leaders said that asset will help the yard offer ship repair of semi-submersible drilling rigs and Panamax-size ships.
Other expansion plans for the south yard include machine shops and electrical shops. VT Halter CEO Bill Skinner has said the facility is expected to be fully operational by March 2014 and will service a variety of ships, from patrol craft to container ships to oil carriers.
The company currently employs about 2,200 workers at its Moss Point, Pascagoula and Escatawpa yards.
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Press Release, August 15, 2013