Page 38: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2019)

SHIPBUILDING 2019 INTERVIEW: RON BACZKOWSKI, PRESIDENT AND CEO, VT HALTER MARINE

Multiple projects:

Left to right – Q-LNG bunkering barge cargo discharge platforms; Q-

LNG ATB Tug superstruc- ture; Auxiliary Personnel

Lighter – Small (APL(S))

Barracks barge.

Below:

Q-LNG’s tug & barge.

Photo: VT Halter

Photo: VT Halter

Globally, the shipbuilding industry has gone through some ‘interesting’ times of late. How has it looked from your perspective?

The shipbuilding market and activity at VT Halter during the past 12 months has been dynamic. Commer- cial and government program opportunities alike, with the continued development and proposal submittals, followed by the award of the Polar Security Cutter be- ing a highlight.

How does it look for the coming 12 months?

We are encouraged by the outlook for our govern-

Guard’s Polar Security Cutters. Please give a state- ment and commerce opportunities in the coming year. head pro? le weld station. This will allow us to improve quality of our products and production ef? ciency by up ment on the importance of this contract to your ship- to 35 percent at these work stations. yard.

New in 2018, VT Halter Marine debuted the blast The USCG Polar Security Cutter project is a great

How has your company invested in its yard(s) over and paint facility, a cutting edge, enclosed building that opportunity for our shipyard the local community, the the past year?

Over the past 24 months, we have invested heav- allows our crews to work in any weather conditions state of Mississippi and the U.S. We are already in the ily in our capital improvements, employee training, while in an environmentally safe atmosphere. The fa- design phase, and gearing up for the program, with all environmental improvements and engineering. We are cility is also designed for 24/7 operation in all weather of our employees doing their part and getting ready. We committed to continuous process improvements. We conditions, and uses 100 percent LED lighting to re- are hiring 900 new jobs, which will more than double are currently upgrading our structural fabrication work duce energy consumption and carbon footprint. our workforce, and every job we add supports our local stations to replace old outdated equipment with new economy. We are proud to have been selected for this equipment for steel panel line fabrication, this includes program, which is necessary to meet national defense

VT Halter recently won one of the most coveted ship- one-sided steel plate welder, structural pro? le ? tter with and homeland security mission demands.

building contracts, the deal to build the U.S. Coast Who do you count as key teammates to bring this automatic weld tacking station and automated eight 38 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • AUGUST 2019

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