Westport Shipyard, the largest yacht builder in North
America, said June 6 that the company’s assets have been acquired by Westport,
LLC, an ownership group that includes members of the Louisiana-based Chouest
family.
Westport Shipyard, which was founded in 1964 and is now celebrating
50 years in business, maintains three locations in Washington state, as well as
a marina and sales office in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The company, which employs
more than 400 workers, has completed more than 120 yachts since 2000. And one
of those customers was Gary Chouest, a member of the new ownership group.
“Gary has always been passionate about our industry, and we
are honored to count him as a customer, and now our majority owner, as well,”
Daryl Wakefield, Westport’s president, said. Wakefield is expected to remain in
his current role with the company, along with General Manager Dave Hagiwara,
and the rest of Westport’s management team and employees.
The Chouest family of companies includes substantial
holdings in its primary business in the oil and gas marine transportation
industry globally, but also includes the Stuart, Florida-based American Custom
Yachts (ACY).
“The Westport family is excited about joining forces with
the Chouest family,” Wakefield said.
Since 1994, ACY has maintained a 63-acre facility accommodating
the design and construction of custom sportsfishermen, as well as other
affiliated companies.
Similar to the history of the Chouest family business,
Westport began five decades ago with a fishing fleet, and has diversified into
many other core businesses. Also similar to the Chouest business model,
Westport maintains its own in-house vessel design and development team.
“We are pleased to join the Westport family, and look forward
to pursuing the synergies that exist between the Chouest companies, ACY, and
Westport,” Gary Chouset said. “We will continue to pursue the employment of
skilled local workers, and will remain an active participant in the communities
Westport serves.”
