Page 40: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2025)

SHIPBUILDING | U.S. MID-SIZED YARDS

GLADDING-HEARN GLADDING-HEARN

SHIPBUILDING: SHIPBUILDING:

Tradition Meets Opportunity

For Peter Duclos, shipbuilding has always been personal.

A YARD BUILT FOR AGILITY …

As President and Director of Business Development at Glad-

Founded in 1955, Gladding-Hearn occupies 6.5 acres on ding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, Duclos repre- the Taunton River, with more than 60,000 sq. ft. of covered sents the third generation of his family to lead the Somerset, work space. The yard maintains all trades in-house, a key

Massachusetts, shipyard. “I’ve been involved with our family’s strategy Duclos said, for controlling cost, schedule, and 70-year-old company my whole life,” he said. “From dinner quality — and supplements with skilled contractors when table conversations to summer jobs, and now as President.” needed. It also boasts a full-service engineering and naval

Armed with a mechanical engineering degree from the Uni- architecture department, enhanced through partnerships with versity of Massachusetts and a U.S. Coast Guard master’s outside designers.

license, Duclos has played a direct role in the design, con-

The yard’s production pace underscores its capacity and struction, and delivery of more than 180 commercial vessels versatility: an average of ? ve new vessels annually, rang- during his career. His responsibilities span sales, marketing, ing from 50 to 165 feet, plus one to two major re? t projects pre-contract engineering, estimating, and strategic planning, each year. Over the decades, Gladding-Hearn has deliv- which he shares with his brother, John Duclos (Co-President ered tugs, ferries, ? reboats, police boats, pilot boats, and and Director of Operations), his sister Carol Hegarty (CFO), research vessels, building a reputation for innovation and and a core team of about 80 highly skilled employees.

customer focus.

(Image above) L to R: Peter Duclos, his sister Carol Hegarty (CFO), and brother John Duclos (Co-

President and Director of Operations) carry on the family business of boatbuilding in Massachusetts. 40 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • August 2025

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