Harvey Gulf becomes shipyard owner

Harvey Gulf International Marine (HGIM) announced Thursday it was launching a new affiliate, Harvey Shipyard Group, to manage its shipbuilding assets.

Harvey Shipyard Group is acquiring Gulf Coast Shipyard (Gulfport, MS) and Trinity Yachts (New Orleans, LA).

HGIM Chairman and CEO Shane J. Guidry said, “These shipyard acquisitions will position Harvey Gulf as America’s only builder, owner, and operator of dual-fuel (diesel/LNG) offshore supply vessels and allow us to pass along the savings of lower operating costs and environmental protection to the Marine Transportation industry.”

The company said in a statement: “Building on Gulf Coast Shipyard’s success in constructing the nation’s first LNG OSVs for the offshore market and building top of the line tank and hot oil barges, HGIM and its affiliates will catapult the Gulf Coast Shipyard into a state-of-the-art builder of world class vessels. HGIM alone is investing $350 million to construct its dual-fuel fleet.”

Harvey Gulf International Marine also said that this July, HGIM will be opening its first of its kind marine fueling station at Port Fourchon, LA to bring LNG as a marine fuel to the offshore and inshore industry.

HGIM’s $25 million Phase I construction will be capable of fueling Harvey Gulf’s fleet of dual-fuel offshore supply vessels and will accommodate America’s growing fleet of over-the-road vehicles operating on safe, efficient LNG, the company said.

“The duel-fuel vessels we’re building and our LNG bunkering facility are indicative of HGIM’s commitment to develop and utilize the safest, most environmentally-friendly vessels and fuel technology available today,” said Guidry.

Harvey Gulf has said it expects its shipyard acquisitions will result in an expansion of operations in Gulfport and New Orleans as it continues to bring innovative dual-fuel ship design, engineering and construction to its marine transportation industry clients.