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backlog, based on predicted increase in activity in the Gulf of Mexico.? Bollinger aims to continue that trend. He adds, ?We continue to invest in the future, replacing aging tonnage, modernizing facility infrastructure, and working with our customers to better understand their needs. OurQuality and HSE programs are paramount, and we usethis as a precision tool with our customers to insure thatwe get it right, the first time.? He reports that its Four- chon location was active with inquiries and commit- ments for several vessels and jack-up rigs scheduled to enter the facility for repairs. Upbeat about the UptickChris Bollinger?s optimism is well-founded, as he ex- plained. ?The shipyard industry experienced a lack of orders for domestic shipbuilding after the BP accident, and customers were hesitant to place new orders due to political climate and Administration?s policies. Deep- water and shelf optimism has returned, and many of the operators have placed multiple contracts for multiple large OSV?s. Other markets such as the Inland water- ways and River market continue to replace tonnage. Markets such as the oil transportation sector once again are looking at future transportation modes and the de-velopment of the fleets for the future. With all of this positive activity, domestic shipyards are filling their ca- pacities with backlogged work into the foreseeable fu- ture.? The ?S? Word Sequestration, or as Gulf Coast shipbuilders call it, the ?S? word, is the proverbial 600-pound gorilla in the room. It costs money to put together a competent bid, and when awards don?t materialize as promised, it can cripple a firm too closely tied to government work. Bollinger is well aware of these realities, and brought up a few more. ?First of all, sequestration is a huge con- cern for all involved in government contracting. This will not only impact shipbuilding, but can cripple our defense and homeland security departments? abilities to perform their duties in protecting our nation. For the last 30 years, Bollinger has been blessed with steady work from both the commercial and government markets. Much of the balance is dependent on customer needs atthat time. Government contracts tend to have long lead time from development of need, to proposal effort, through to award and construction. Plenty of time and money are involved in the Government proposal effort. On the other hand, commercial proposals and contractscan be developed and awarded much quicker. It is nice to have a balance of both government and commercial work. There have been times when our entire backlog was all Government work, and other times when it was all commercial work. A unique capability of Bollinger is our ability to perform Government and Commercial work in the same yard at the same time.? OPC: Bollinger, the Quiet Company The race to build OPC is on, but Bollinger, having an- nounced its team, isn?t saying much else. Where others have been increasing vocal about their entries, Bollinger has taken a noticeably lower key approach. The Bollinger team, nevertheless ? Damen (proven, durable hull forms) and Gibbs & Cox for design (extensive U.S. government, Coast guard and U.S. Navy experience) ? will present a formidable case to the Coast Guard?s de- cision team. Bollinger would say only, ?We are excited about the OPC program and our team, but it is hard to comment too much as there is a competition going on.? Notwithstanding the tight-lipped position on OPC atBollinger, the Gulf Coast boatbuilder appears to be as well-positioned as anyone for the prize. Looking at the FRC program, for example, and with 18 hulls under contract, three already delivered, and 10 more in pro- duction, Bollinger is more than proving its mettle in the race. Family Business A prominent theme that emerged during October?s Ocean Class christening ceremony was the ?Family? metaphor shared by both the Crowley and Bollinger families. For example, Chairman and CEO Boysie Bollinger talked of building a family ?Brand,? leverag- ing the longevity of both firms. For his part, Tom Crow- ley made sure that the officers and crew of both vessels had a special and prominent place in the day?s festivities. After the ceremony, Chris Bollinger reflected on those values and offered, ?Bollinger Shipyards is about fam- ily. Not only a Bollinger family business, but our em- ployees and customers are our families. This is the atmosphere created by my grandfather, and this philos- ophy continues today. It?s about treating people with re- spect. It?s about ethics and values. It?s about character ? doing the right thing when no one else is looking.? Internally at this Bollinger, that philosophy seems to alive and well; paying dividends on a daily basis. November 2012www.marinelink.com 59?I haven?t been this excitedabout domestic shipbuildingin a long time.? Chris BollingerMR#11 (58-65):MR Template 11/6/2012 3:58 PM Page 59