Page 30: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 1986)

Main Iron Works Yard

Acquired By Molaison

Main Iron Works, Inc. (MIW) of

Houma, La., has been purchased from Sonat Marine Inc. of Philadel- phia by Leroy J. Molaison, re- turning the shipyard to private own- ership. Sonat marine, a subsidiary of Sonat Inc. of Birmingham, Ala., acquired MIW in 1979. Throughout its ownership, MIW has maintained a high market share in both new construction and more recently in vessel repairs.

In business since 1947, MIW has continuously adapted to the changes in the vessel construction and repair market. From the first steel vessel the yard built in the ear- ly 1950s to the latest modern de- signs, MIW has been a leader in the design of tugboats for use in the oil- fields, in harbors, and on oceans throughout the world.

Recent improvements to the Hou- ma facility, including an expanded drydocking area and a 3,500-ton drydock, should enable MIW to meet the future needs of the chang- ing maritime industry. With the ma- jor emphasis currently on conver- sions and repowering of older ves- sels, MIW has a long and varied background in doing such work.

Other services at MIW include a complete ABS-certified machine shop, woodworking shop, electrical

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Throughout the change in owner- ship the management of Main Iron

Works has remained intact. In addi- tion to Mr. Molaison as president, current officers include Wayne

Piazza as executive vice president, and Harvey P. Landry and Hen- ry Brunet as vice presidents. Oth- er management personnel at the fa- cility include Norris P. Guidry, supervisor of fabrication and re- pairs; Louis Prosperie, machine shop supervisor; and Kenneth

Breaux, electrical supervisor.

These employees represent more than 140 years of combined experi- ence.

For additional information on

MIW,

Circle 25 on Reader Service Card

Craft Machine Awarded $20-Million Contract

For Six Portal Cranes

Craft Machine Works Incorpo- rated, Hampton, Va., is being awarded a $19,971,248 fixed-price contract for the design, construction and delivery of six 60-ton portal cranes. The contract contains four out-year options for an additional 17 cranes and a potential total value of $73,705,014. Three of the initial cranes are destined for the Norfolk

Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Va., and one each to the Naval Submar- ine Base, Kings Bay, Kingsland,

Ga.; Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia,

Pa.; and the Polaris Missile Test

Facility, Atlantic, Charleston, S.C.

The cranes will be designed in Du- luth, Minn., and manufactured in

Hampton. Work on the first phase of the contract is scheduled to be completed in June 1988. The final option, if exercised, is scheduled to be completed in March 1991. Eleven bids were received. The Naval Facil- ities Engineering Command, Phila- delphia, is the contracting activity (N62472-82-C-1455).

Port of Galveston

Appoints Matson Agencies

Western U.S. Sales Agents

Matson Agencies and the Port of

Galveston recently announced the appointment of Matson as the port's exclusive sales and marketing agents in 13 Western states.

The agreement was signed by

C.S. Devoy, executive director and general manager of the Port of Gal- veston, and Eugene R. Swanson, president of Matson Agencies, in

Matson's headquarters in San Fran- cisco. The western sales and mar- keting efforts of the Port of Galves- ton will be carried out through Mat- son offices at Los Angeles, Seattle,

Portland and Honolulu, in addition to San Francisco. - Wt I __ 1 •

At sea, dependable f performance is what ^ /f J* counts. That's why

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Marine Fire Systems

Operations... 34 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News