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www.marinelink.com MN49tion, design control and configura- tion management.?With the LCS project already on its resume, Gibbs & Cox arguably may have no rival when it comes to under- standing both sides of the equationand perhaps no one explains why bet-ter than Midboe, who says, ?The LCS was a real transition for the U.S. Navy and for industry. We were the lead design firm involved with the project so we were the ones who took on the lion?s share associated with bringing the new rules into the design process for LCS. We had a very good working relationship with ABS for years on the commercial side and we were on a number of their standing committees.We leveraged those relationships and our experience in the commercial market, working very closely with ABS to implement rules that were a combination of commercial and gov- ernment Milspec rules. We had to work that into an aligned process; one which met the requirements of ABS as well as the needs for the Navy. That process, conducted alongside a very aggressive production schedule, was not without its hard spots. In the end, it was very successful. We relied on our experience on both sides of theledger to make sure that the LCS pro- gram worked as well as it did. And, we carry that into the future.? If the New Orleans office puts a personal face on an already nationally known name, the new location, now in place for almost one year, means so much more to the Gibbs & Cox big picture. Eric Midboe sums up the first year by saying, ?We got a warm welcome when we opened the office, and we?ve visited most of the ship- yards in the area. They?ve been inter- ested in listening to what we have to offer and we?ve been given the oppor- tunity to bid on work and partner with them. The dredge contract is an indication that we are starting to see success. As a company, we bring a broad, national corporate structure that we can apply to solving the prob- lems on wide menu of issues.? The New Orleans/Gulf Coast design and build market, for govern- ment and commercial requirements alike, is a crowded one. In February, Gibbs & Cox served notice that there was room for one more at the table. Delivering on that bet with personal service, backed by 80 years of experi- ence, they look to be here to stay. That said, and as ?partners by design,? Gibbs & Cox and the U.S. Gulf Coast have always been a good fit. Office: 337-237-5011 Email: [email protected] Web: www.aheadtank.com New IMO and USCG CertifiedType II Sewage Treatment Plant ? Compact? Lightweight? Corrosion Resistant ? Odor Free ? Simple Installation? Easy Maintenance? Customer Friendly ? Cost Effective ?Shipyards are seeing a broad base of work, sometimes on a short term basis. So, the need to augment in-house staff with outside technical help will always be there. It makes a whole lot of sense for them interms of being lean and competitive.? Mark Masor, Gulf Coast Operations Manager, Gibbs & Cox in New OrleansMN#10 (32-49):MN 2011 Layouts 10/5/2011 10:45 AM Page 49