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Tax policies which enact tax credits at the local/state level should be estab- lished for highly skilled manufacturing industries such as boat building. SAFE employs highly skilled labor and is an ex- porter of American manufactured goods. – Dennis Morris, CEO,

SafeBoats International

Eastern Shipbuilding, in Florida’s Panhandle, recently tied equation has been selling oil skimmers all over the world for to PSVs for both Harvey Gulf and Hornbeck Marine, along 25 years. Beyond these shores, Whittemore says the skimmers with tugs for Florida Marine Transporters, had built a series of are in operation in places like Brazil, Poland, Russia, Australia

PSV’s exported to Brazil (with deliveries in 2013-2014). The and Mexico. Whittemore also points to Kvichak’s experience yard is presently building a quartet of inland river towboats for in the pilot boat markets. “We have export experience – this a logistics provider (tied to one of the world’s leading com- isn’t something new to us. One of our ? rst signi? cant export modity trading houses) in Colombia. projects involved the production and delivery of three 22 me-

The boats, designed by CT Marine, are purpose-built for the ter pilot boats for Dutch pilots in Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

South American trades and feature triple screw propulsion, These are semi-governmental agencies and for the Dutch to go and retractable pilothouses. The ? rst of these hulls, the Im- outside Holland for these hulls – especially the U.S. – was a pala Soledad was launched in June. According to Eastern’s big deal.” He adds, “We gave them the boat they wanted – not a prepared statement on the launching, “This series of towboats stock hull or pre-designed form.” Beyond this, Pilot Boats have expands Eastern’s commitment to the inland maritime indus- also been delivered to the Middle East (Oman), Survey Vessels try abroad and continues its long history of being a successful to South America and Commercial Fishing Vessels to Russia.

diversi? ed US Shipbuilder.”

Current Events & Looking Ahead

On the U.S. West Coast, plans to further penetrate foreign markets are well underway. Leveraging the combined weight Military applications respond to world events and the nu- of its two newest acquisitions – Kvichak Marine Industries and ances of how government programs are administered. And,

Oregon Iron Works – Vigor is eyeing the overseas combat and it is here that U.S. yards have been particularly successful. patrol craft market. Acting not only as a balance against a wan- Dennis Morris, CEO of SafeBoats International of Bremer- ing domestic military small boat market, Vigor also sees po- ton, Washington, pointed to recently delivered SAFE 38 Full tentially rich opportunities with Middle East entities who will Cabin vessels, and told MarPro in July, “The current trends likely see great need for this type of littoral craft in the future. are needs for vessels with the mission pro? les of drug smug-

This isn’t Vigor’s ? rst export rodeo. Vigor has previously gling interdiction, immigrant smuggling interdiction, and, exported to Israel, for example, and its Kvichak side of the Search and Rescue (SAR) – especially to combat the grow- www.maritimelogisticsprofessional.com 51I 50-63 Q3 MP2016.indd 51 8/17/2016 10:27:29 AM