MARAD Awards Nearly $10 Million in Grants to Small Shipyards

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced Wednesday $9.46 million to help improve 12 shipyards in 10 states. The grants, provided through the Small Shipyard Grant Program, are supposed to foster efficiency and modernizations that allow shipyards to compete more effectively in the global marketplace.

Acting Maritime Administrator Paul ‘Chip’ Jaenichen made the announcement at Jeffboat, LLC, one of the grant recipients, located in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

“Improvements at our shipyards mean more ships can be built right here in the United States, which means more jobs for hard-working Americans,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “These grants are about creating new opportunities in our local communities, as well as competing in the global economy.”

For this latest round of awards, MARAD received 113 grant applications requesting $96 million in assistance. Only $9.46 million was made available in this round of grants.

The grants fund a variety of projects including infrastructure improvements and equipment upgrades to increase operational competitiveness and quality vessel construction, MARAD says.

Since 2009, the Obama administration has provided more than $150 million to help U.S. shipyards and their workers reap the benefits of increased production capabilities delivered by emerging technologies and highly skilled workers, according to MARAD.

“It is no secret that the economic ripple effect of our nation’s shipyards is far-reaching,” said Acting Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen. “While shipyards improve their infrastructure, they’re also creating new opportunities in industries and communities across the country.”

In June, MARAD released a report showing that in 2011, U.S. shipyards -the more than 300 actively involved in shipbuilding and repair- directly provided more than 107,000 jobs, $7.9 billion in labor income, and both directly and indirectly contributed $36 billion in gross domestic product to the U.S. economy

A full list of recipients can be found below:

• All American Marine, Bellingham, Wash. – $999,100 for overhead cranes, welding machines, CNC router, scissors lifts, painting area upgrades, ventilation upgrades.
• Blount Boats, Warren, R.I. – $680,272 for metal working equipment, engineering software, big top portable work shelter, material handling enhancements.
• C&C Marine and Repair, Belle Chasse, La. – $999,920 for a 220-ton hydraulic crane.
• Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp., Salisbury, Md. – $559,686 for industrial gas system, compressed air system, mobile crane.
• Conrad Orange Shipyard, Orange, Texas – $686,539 for shipyard electrical upgrades.
• Dorchester Shipyard, Inc., Dorchester, N.J. – $945,800 for a new floating dry dock.
• International Ship and Repair & Marine Services, Tampa, Fla. – $980,260 for a 275-ton crawler crane.
• Jeffboat, LLC, Jeffersonville, Ind. – $845,817 for redesign and modernization of the existing vessel line three.
• Lyon Shipyard, Norfolk, Va. – $779,168 for computer numerically controlled (CNC) lathe.
• North Florida Shipyard, Jacksonville, Fla. – $459,160 for waste water treatment and recycling system.
• Seacraft Shipyard, LLC, Amelia, La. – $1,100,000 for a marine travelift.
• Thames Shipyard and Repair Co., New London, Conn. – $422,264 for flow UHP (ultra-high pressure) system.