Halter Moss Point: This Way is Up

Bill Skinner ... Sibley Perry ... Eric Richards.

Respectively the senior vice president of operations, the yard manager, and the NOAA project manager at Halter Moss Point, this trio represents nearly one century of marine industry experience, experience that will be crucial in returning all of Halter Marine to its pre-Chapter 11 form.

"It won't be long and our heads will be held high again, and we will be back to where we were," Richards said. By their own admission, the facility in Moss Point is not particularly large. But it is modern and offers what cannot be bought: a level of ship and boatbuilding experience that earns the highest accolades from the world's most discriminating customers.

Logistic Support Vessel One customer who was instrumental in the continuation of operation of Halter Marine — the U.S. Army's Tank and Automotive Command (TACOM) — celebrated the laying of the keel of its new Enhanced Logistic Support Vessel (ELSV) in July. The 314 x 60 x 19 ft.

(95.7 x 18.2 x 5.7 m) vessel — when completed in two years — will support TACOM logistical efforts on a worldwide basis. Halter has previously built for the U.S. Army six LSVs, six Large Tugs and 35 LCU-2000 Class Landing Craft Utilities.

"Halter has designed and built all of the U.S. Army's LSVs — this being number seven," said Anil Raj, Chief Operating Officer. "Two additional LSVs have been built previously for the Philippine Navy. We value the trust and confidence that the Army has placed in Halter's Team." The yard also started construction of NOAA's (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) newest vessel the M/V Oscar Dyson. The $38.3 million vessel is scheduled for delivery in 36 months. The M/V Oscar Dyson is a state-of-the-art Fishing Research Vessel named in honor of Oscar Dyson, of Kodiak, Alaska. Mr. Dyson, a wellknown fishing activist served as an industry advisor to government officials, including a congressional delegation.

The vessel will be homeported in Kodiak, Alaska as part of the NOAA fleet. The Office of Marine and Aviation Operations will operate the vessel. The vessel will measure 209 x 49 ft. (63.6 x 15 m), and a draft with the centerboard in an up position of 19 ft. (5.9 m). The vessels will house multiple laboratories and is designed with a 40-day endurance. In addition to this government work. Halter Marine recently launched Capella, an 80,000-barrel tank barge for J&L, Inc. The barge, the first project Halter has undertaken for J&L, was built at Halter's Gulfport, Miss.

Yard. Delivery was scheduled for August 30. The barge is 332 ft. (101.1 m) long, with a beam of 74 ft. (22.5 m) and a depth of 25 ft. (7.6 m), and is built to U.S. Coast Guard standards under Sub-chapter D, as a tank barge certified to carry Grade A or lower bulk petroleum products. The barge also qualifies to be certified by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) under the +A1 Oil Tank Barge designation