Bollinger Shipyards Resumes Operations at Gulf Facilities Following Hurricane Ida

Louisiana shipbuilder Bollinger Shipyards said Friday that all 11 of its facilities are now open and operational following Hurricane Ida’s landfall last month as a powerful Category 4 storm.

Bollinger’s facilities in Port Fourchon, Larose, Lockport and Houma all suffered significant damage as a result of the storm, which tied with last year’s Hurricane Laura and the Last Island Hurricane of 1856 as the strongest on record in Louisiana.

“Despite the devastation and loss suffered throughout South Louisiana, the community has rallied and today we’re proud to welcome our workforce back to our yards across the state. This would not have been possible without the help of our employees, vendors, municipalities, and our utility providers Entergy and SLECA,” said Bollinger President & CEO Ben Bordelon.

“Each year brings a new storm season, and with it, its own unique set of challenges – this year has been no different. But to know our workers is to understand the strength and resiliency of the Cajun people. I’m incredibly proud of our workforce for their dedication to getting all of our facilities back up and running safely so that we can continue delivering for our customers. In spite of record storms or the ongoing COVID?19 global pandemic, America’s Maritime Defense Industrial Base is unmovable,” Bordelon said.

Prior to the storm’s arrival, Bollinger took steps to mitigate potential damages to its facilities and any resulting delays to its production schedules. Despite damages sustained to Bollinger’s Lockport facility, the 650?man production line for the U.S. Coast Guard Fast Response Cutter program has resumed operations and Bollinger is on track to deliver the next vessel ahead of schedule.

Bollinger reports that all employees and their families are safe and accounted for. However, a number of employees lost their homes and personal property and many remain without access to electricity and running water. Bollinger has established the Bollinger Employee Relief Fund, administered by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, to help cover qualified essential and emergency needs of employees throughout the recovery process.

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