ben bordelon

- Congress: Short-term Funding Decisions Create Long-term Domestic and National Security Issues Marine News, Sep 2022 #19
Year after year, America’s shipyards that make up the defense industrial base get their hopes up that the annual federal government funding process will produce stable and predictable budgets for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard acquisition programs. Every year, the yards are disappointed as the U.S. Government bounces from spending crisis to spending crisis.
At the same time, the yards look favorably upon the shipbuilding plans that significantly grow our Nation’s fleet beyond today’s 296 ships. However, to meet the increased demands that these plans would require, U.S. shipyards would need to expand their work forces and improve their infrastructure – a requirement our Nation’s shipyards are eager to provide.
But to build these ships in a timely and affordable manner, stable and robust funding is necessary to sustain those industrial capabilities which support Navy and Coast Guard shipbuilding. In the absence of this type of certainty, shipyards like mine that compete to build these national security assets are sustained by commercial shipbuilding and repair so that we can remain viable when the time comes to build and repair the national security fleets.
While the yards have made this work year after year, many shipyards are reaching a breaking point. Between supply chain-, labor-, access to capital- and inflation-related challenges, something has to give.
Instead of another short-term fix or worse, our critical U.S. national security assets deserve a long-term, comprehensive solution. Continuing along the same worn path is now threatening our domestic and national security while our adversaries continue to advance.
Look no further than the massive investment China has made into its navy and coast guard, which by ship count is now the largest naval power in the world at nearly 400 ships. China’s naval prowess has been on full display of late in its recent war games and live fire drills in the Taiwan Strait. And earlier this year, China participated in naval drills alongside another growing naval power – Russia.
While alarming, these developments should not come as a surprise. Over the years, Washington has tossed aside the traditional appropriations process and become over-reliant on Continuing Resolutions that are more closely aligned with election cycles than business cycles or fiscal years.
According to the U.S. Navy, the use of short-term funding mechanisms unnecessarily forces the immediate prioritization of forward-deployed forces at the long-term expense of essential maintenance. For the yards responsible for building critical programs, Continuing Resolutions introduce uncertainty into the future of previously-authorized programs and put unnecessary pressure on our industrial base, which is already showing signs of strain. The U.S. Coast Guard, which has become integral to maintaining the United States’ forward presence in the IndoPacific and the Middle East, is similarly harmed by Continuing Resolutions.
The long-term consequence of short-term thinking is a further depleted military and commercial fleet struggling to keep up with our adversaries and strategic competitors around the globe. This sentiment is clearly articulated in U.S. Sen. John Kennedy’s recent op-ed where he discusses curbing China’s ambitions in the Pacific. He says, “The U.S. can’t afford to be ignorant of the economic investments and military overtures China is making to our neighbors in the Pacific.”
China, under the guise of its Belt and Road Initiative, has progressively built a commanding fleet presence, endangering our allies and regional partnerships across Oceana and the Indo Pacific. For example, only five years after an international court ruling that rejected 90% of Beijing's claims in the South China Sea, the presence of Chinese vessels within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone is more frequent than ever. China has also continued to conduct dangerous military exercises in the Taiwan Strait that risk potential escalation and severely endangers the democratic independence of the nation.
Beijing has spent billions expanding its ports network to secure sea lanes and establish itself as a maritime superpower. Beijing’s shipping lines carry more cargo and deliver more containers than those of any other nation. All told, the South China Sea carries an estimated one-third of global shipping, of which $1.2 trillion accounts from trade with the U.S. And as we have seen from the global supply chain and shipping crisis, China is taking every advantage to fuel its ambitions at the expense of American businesses and consumers.
Meanwhile, the entire U.S. fleet of oceangoing commercial ships numbers fewer than 200 vessels, out of a global total of 44,000. By allowing China to control the waters of the Indo-Pacific, America is ceding its leadership, severely endangering our critical supply chains and threatening our economic security and that of our allies.
The United States must reaffirm its position as the world’s unequivocal maritime superpower. The U.S. shipyard industry and industrial base stand at the ready, annually supporting nearly 400,000 jobs across the United States, producing $28.1 billion in direct labor income and contributing $42.4 billion in direct GDP to the national economy.
As we face these significant challenges ahead, we must start first with stable and predictable government funding processes that are designed to build and maintain our national and domestic security assets and invest in our mariners and industrial base. Budgets need to be designed for decades, not political cycles. Our domestic and national security depend on it.
- Bollinger Builds Maritime Reporter, Sep 2013 #78
nine in south Louisiana and one in Texas -- along with 28 drydocks and 3,000 employees in four administrative locations. Last month, we caught up with Ben Bordelon, Bollinger’s Executive Vice President of Repair, for his outlook on the firm and the Gulf of Mexico. Bordelon is the nephew of Boysie Bollinger
- Bollinger Restructures Management Team Maritime Reporter, Nov 2002 #8
Incat Australia Pty. Ltd. to market and build high-speed aluminum catamaran ferries and transport ships for U. S. commercial and military markets. Ben Bordelon, formerly special projects coordinator, has been promoted to executive vice-president, repair. Cathy Green, who joined Bollinger in 1999 as
- 2022 US Shipbuilding Report Marine News, Mar 2022 #32
since the early days of the pandemic, and it’s clear that business is far from usual for American shipyards.Bollinger Shipyards president and CEO, Ben Bordelon, speaking as chairman of trade group the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) during a February 2021 House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommitte
- Marine News' 2024 US Shipbuilding Report Marine News, Apr 2024 #26
a complicated business.In a session on the domestic shipbuilding marketplace, at Marine Money’s late-November 2023 conference held in New Orleans, Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards (with more than a dozen facilities, in Mississippi and Louisiana), described his company’s architecture

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April 2024 - Marine News page: 26
private-sector work at Marine Money’s late-November 2023 conference held in for U.S. yards. He noted the extreme cyclicality of com- New Orleans, Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bol- mercial work, saying, “It’s extremely challenging to recruit, linger Shipyards (with more than a dozen facilities, in
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September 2022 - Marine News page: 19
OpEd Shipbuilding Congress: Short-term Funding Decisions Create Long-term Domestic and National Security Issues By Ben Bordelon our adversaries continue to advance. Year after year, Look no further than the massive investment China has America’s shipyards that make up the defense industrial made
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September 2022 - Marine News page: 6
as USCG Master 500 tons with Master of Tow. general counsel of a major harbor tug and shipyard op- erator. He is also a court-approved mediator. 2 Ben Bordelon Ben Bordelon is President and CEO of Bollinger Ship- 6 Barry Parker yards and also serves as the Chairman of the Shipbuild- Barry Parker of
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September 2022 - Marine News page: 2
Stock Marine Group Boat Works 32 4 Editor’s Note 19 OpEd: Short-term Decisions 43 Products Create Long-term Issues 6 Authors By Ben Bordelon, Bollinger Shipyards 44 Editorial Calendar 10 By the Numbers: 38 Pro? le: Silverback Marine By Eric Haun Small Shipyard Grants 45
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October 2020 - Marine News page: 54
impor- Coast Guard to continue the work we’re doing,” said Bol- tant roles related to the FRC program,” Bordelon said. linger Shipyards president & CEO Ben Bordelon. “De- “Without the support of the Coast Guard and Congress livering vessels on schedule and on budget to the Coast for the continuation of this
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July 2020 - Marine News page: 56
ership. Taking over the helm of Chair- attack on June 7, 2020. He was 45. man from Terry O’Brien of Austal USA Steve began his career in maritime is Ben Bordelon, president and CEO publishing in 1998. In 2014, Steve start- of Bollinger Shipyards. Joining him to ed his own marketing ?rm Wake Media lead
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June 2020 - Marine News page: 51
Hazard mission in the Indo-Paci?c region – a fo- cal point emphasized by both President Trump and Admiral Shultz,” said Bol- linger President & CEO, Ben Bordelon. The homeporting of three FRCs in Guam is part of the U.S. Coast Guard’s “doubling down on Oceania,” allowing more frequent and longer patrols
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May 2015 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 69
Bollinger Bollinger Chet Morrison Contractors Seaspan Chet Morrison Contractors Gethings Guidry Bollinger CEO, Ben Bordelon center, Reeves Reps. Courtney, Wittman honored SCA’s Matthew Paxton & Ian Bennitt tia Rivers. • The third service is a proposed route that will provide access to origins and
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May 2015 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 68
States diplomat with a Washington, D.C. Accepting the awards was Bol- strong background in energy and economic policy, linger’s President and CEO Ben Bordelon. was selected to be the new Deputy Executive Di- rector of the International Energy Agency. Simons Chet Morrison Contractors will take up his
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February 2015 - Marine News page: 52
Shipyard Announces cut from a family holiday gathering New Leadership appointed Dr. Gene W. Ray, former in California and was taken ill in Ben Bordelon will assume the CEO of Titan Corporation, as interim transit. He was rushed to hospital duties of Chairman, President and Chief Executive Of
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January 2015 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 52
Shipyards announced that assume that position on August 1 of next Crowley Maritime Corp.’s global ship computers and panel computers are used Ben Bordelon will assume the duties of year. Following his retirement as presi- management group won the contract for on board commercial ships, offshore ves- Chair
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November 2002 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 8
Australia Pty. Ltd. to market and build high-speed alu- minum catamaran ferries and transport ships for U. S. commercial and military markets. Ben Bordelon, formerly spe- cial projects coordinator, has been pro- moted to executive vice-president, repair. Cathy Green, who joined Bollinger in 1999
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September 2013 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 4th Cover
, CEO and Chairman of the Board Boysie Bollinger, the manage- ment team includes Christopher Bol-linger, Executive Vice President of New Construction; Ben Bordelon; and An- drew J. St. Germain, Chief Financial Of-Þ cer and Treasurer. Founder Donald Bollinger retired in 1989 and passed away in 2001. The com-
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September 2013 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 3rd Cover
for Terrebone Parish. We?re currently building three sludge ships for New York City. We?re also building four 300? class platform supply vessels.? Ben Bordelon, Bollinger?s EVP, Repair Business at Bollinger is buoyant, including (starting below left and continuing clock- wise): US Coast Guard Cutters; Sludge
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September 2012 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 42
of Bollinger over the past 16 years, and a mentor to many in the shipyard industry over his 52 year ca- reer,? said Bollinger Executive Vice President, Ben Bordelon. ?His attentionto detail, hard work and focus on client satisfaction have helped create a solid foundation for us going forward. Larry's stamp will
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May 2012 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 56
upcoming retirement of itsVice President and General Manager, Max Sparre . Sparre?s retirement was an- nounced by Bollinger Executive Vice President, Ben Bordelon, giving an overview of Sparre's 51 years of serv- iceto the shipyard industry and the Bollinger group of shipyards. In addition to the announcement
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March 2011 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 71
, CEO Horn- beck Offshore Operators, Inc.; Robert Clemons, Vice President and General Manager of the Amer- icas Division SEACOR Marine, LLC; Ben Bordelon, Executive Vice President of Repair Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. Ward Joins The McLean Group The McLean Group middle market investment bank
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March 2011 - Marine News page: 46
of the Board; Robert Clemons, Vice President and General Manager of the Americas Division SEACOR Marine, LLC, will advance to Vice Chairman; and Ben Bordelon, Executive Vice President of Repair Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., will serve as Secretary and Treasurer. Jim Adams, who had been working in his
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May 2010 - Marine News page: 36
Vice President and Corporate Secretary; Boysie's son, Chris Bollinger, as Executive Vice-President of New Construction; and Charlotte Bollinger's son, Ben Bordelon, as Executive Vice President of Repair. These four family members along with Dick Bollinger, President Emeritus, make up the company's Board of