Page 49: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 1999)

Catching the (First) Wave Newpark Shipbuilding has increased its portfolio of businesses from one to six in the past 18 months, but don't expect this Houston-Galveston region company to rest on its laurels. More growth is expected and planned. ? by Chris Palermo, managing editor, MarineNews Island, and the East Yard and West Yard facilities on Pelican Island. Today, the company's headquarters ? First Wave, a holding company ? in Houston. The East Pelican Island facili-ty is the focus of the Galveston, or off-shore, operations; while Brady Island is the focus of the inland operations. Even though Newpark acquired exist-ing shipyards ? for example, the East Pelican Island facility was once owned by Todd Shipbuilding - it didn't mean the shipyards were fully functional from the start. "We put a lot of money into the ship-yards," says Don Francis, director of marketing, Newpark Shipbuilding. "For example, we've put nearly $30 million into the East Pelican Island facility. When we acquired the yard, it was in With six facilities in two areas ? three each in Houston and Galveston ? Newpark Shipbuild-ing's "network" is able to offer customers repair, construction and conversion of boats, barges, ships and offshore drilling rigs. Newpark Shipbuilding was formed in the early 1990s by Sam and Frank Eakin. The Eakins, with an investment banking background, saw opportunity in the Houston-Galveston area for con-solidation amidst the fragmented ship-building industry. The Eakin's goal was a strong shipyard network. Less than a decade later, Newpark Shipbuilding has acquired enough yards to constitute what the company refers to as a "shipbuilding network." Altogether, six facilities have been acquired in the Houston-Galveston area, employing more than 1,200 people. The full service commercial shipyard features product and geographic diversi-fication. There are no "specialties" here; the company is active in the repair, con-struction and conversion of boats, barges, ships and offshore drilling rigs The first yard Newpark acquired was on Brady Island, in the Houston Ship Channel. The yard instantly carried the name "Newpark," and was followed by two other acquisitions in the Houston area ? Greens Bayou and Pasadena. In addition, the company acquired three yards in the Galveston area: Galveston The Brady Island facility was Newpark Ship-building's first acquisition, and is the focus of the company's inland operations along the Houston Ship Channel. November, 1999 Circle 231 on Reader Service Card SHIPBOARD Dayton T. Brown, Inc. provides complete test services for shipboard qualification testing in accordance with MIL-S-901 Shock, MIL-STD-167 Vibration, MIL-STD-461 EMI and MIL-STD-2036 test requirements. Dayton T. Brown, Inc. has over 47 years of engineering & testing experience and affords you a complete range of dynamic, environmental, atmospheric and electromagnetic testing facilities as well as consulting services in a centralized location. For a complete facility brochure or technical information concerning any test requirement, contact: Dayton T. Brown, Inc. Church Street, Bohemia, NY 11716-5031 USA Please direct all inquiries to: (908) 638-0172 ? [email protected] Visit our web site at: www.daytontbrown.com