Page 14: of Marine News Magazine (November 2024)

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Insights communicate by phone, email, text or Teams. We have ac- training and advancement opportunities for our employ- cess to our server remotely to look at drawings, send and ees as discussed above. We have made some recent invest- receive photos, research something on the internet, etc. It ments in facilities. In 2020, we purchased a new plasma has really enhanced our customer service response. cutting machine. We have done plasma cutting in-house

Despite advances in technology in all aspects of the ma- since 1998. The new plasma cutter provides more accu- rine industry, custom boat building continues to require racy and has the ability to mark the plate. With the help skilled people to complete the project. We are always look- of a MARAD small shipyard grant, we just replaced some ing for ways to improve ef? ciency with technology, but inef? cient bi-fold doors with sliding hanger type doors on the actual production takes people. Therefore, one of our one of our large fabrication buildings. We purchased a self- main focuses is on training our employees and making sure propelled yard transporter for small to mid-sized vessels. we have a safe workplace. We also just completed a covered plate storge yard, so we

Regulatory oversight has become a much bigger part of can store plate out of the weather. All three investments every aspect of the business in the past 30 years. While will allow us to utilize our limited climate controlled inter- the oversight adds a signi? cant cost to running a business, nal space and our railway more ef? ciently. much of the oversight has had positive impacts, especially regarding safety and environmental issues. What is your vision for Gladding-Hearn Ship-

Another big change is the addition of a dedicated Qual- building in the next 5 to 10 years?

ity Control department. This small, but mighty depart- I don’t see further expansion in the near future, rather ment has helped us improve our construction standards continually improving our current operation. The new- and the quality of our end product. build passenger vessel market has been very slow, but I am encouraged by recent enquires that this is changing.

How is Gladding-Hearn investing—in people, I also think we will continue to see companies opting for facilities, etc.—to ensure future success? major overhauls and repowers given the increasing cost

We are always looking for opportunities to provide of new builds.

Gladding-Hearn is building a new 300-passenger, high-speed catamaran for Key West, Fla.-based

Yankee Freedom, for passenger service between Key West and the

Dry Tortugas National Park.

Incat Crowther 14 | MN November 2024