Halter Marine, Inc. Sets Production Record - 2 2 8 Deliveries In 1979

Halter Marine, Inc., New Orleans, La., set another annual production record in 1979 by delivering 228 vessels.

Six of the company's shipyards delivered 75 l a r g e commercial vessels, while Halter's three consumer product yards delivered 153 vessels. The 10th Halter facility furnished pre-cut steel and aluminum for commercial vessels.

Included in the total were 52 supply boats, up 10 from 1978's record pace, further strengthening Halter's position as one of the world's largest builders of support ships for the offshore oil and gas industry.

Also in the tally are nine crewboats, four lift boats, two tugs, two fishing vessels, and one each survey boat, ferry, VIP launch, patrol boat, oil retriever, and a surface-effect hydrographic vessel.

Halter's consumer products shipyards delivered 105 Cigarette racing boats, 41 Coastal Fisherman Lafitte skiffs, six Easterly 38 sailboats,and one Halter 63 + 2 yacht, sportfisherman.

Floyd J. Naquin. president of Halter Marine, said the continuing growth and productivity of the company can be attributed to three programs — product diversification, a multimillion-dollar capital improvement and expansion program, and HIP, the Halter Incentive Program.

Halter's diversification efforts in 1979 are reflected in the signing of contracts for seven large catamaran (CATUGS) tugs totaling nearly $140 million, the delivery of a 162-foot multipurpose fishing vessel for Alaskan fisheries, and delivery of the first Bell-Halter surface effect ship to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Systems and equipment at all yards were upgraded with major programs implemented at Chickasaw, Ala., and at the New Orleans Industrial Canal facility.

Chickasaw added two 300-ton crawler cranes, a 56,000-squarefoot fabrication b u i l d i n g with overhead cranes, three CATUG erection plattens, refurbished a 40,000-square-foot warehouse, and began construction of a large drydock.

Another numerically controlled plasma arc cutting machine was installed at the Industrial Canal f a c i l i t y where a new 30,000- square-foot fabrication building was erected.

The HIP program, which completed its first full year's operation, increased productivity at all yards. It rewards employees with quarterly cash bonuses for saving time and materials, while maintaining or improving product quality.

Halter Marine owns and operates six shipyards in Louisiana, two in Mississippi, one in Alabama and one in Florida.

Other stories from January 1980 issue

Content

Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.