Tuesday, July 30, 2013

MARAD Reveals Shipyard Grant Recipients

Twelve shipyards across the United States, including one in Washington state, have been awarded a total of $9.46 million in grants for a variety of projects including infrastructure improvements and equipment upgrades to increase operational competitiveness and quality vessel construction.

Out of the dozen shipyards announced as award recipients by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) on July 24, only All American Marine is located on the West Coast.

Bellingham, Washington-based All American Marine was awarded $999,100, which the company says it will use for overhead cranes, welding machines, a CNC router, scissors lifts, painting area upgrades and ventilation upgrades.

The federal grants are provided through MARAD’s Small Shipyard Grant Program, which is designed to foster efficiency and modernizations that allow shipyards to compete more effectively in the global marketplace.

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

For the latest round of awards, MARAD said it received 113 grant applications requesting a total of $96 million in assistance, over 10 times more than the $9.46 million available.

In addition to All American Marine, funding recipients include Seacraft Shipyard, LLC in Amelia, Louisiana, which received the largest portion of the funding -- $1.1 million -- for a marine travelift; and C&C Marine and Repair of Belle Chasse, Louisiana, which was granted $999,920 for a 220-ton hydraulic crane.

Other grant recipients are based throughout the U.S., including in New Jersey, Florida, Texas and Maryland. A full list of recipient shipyards and award amounts can be downloaded at http://www.marad.dot.gov/documents/Grant_Awards.doc.