Bender gets $35 million contract for two supply ships

Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co. Inc. has struck a deal with Trico Marine Services Inc. to build a pair of 210-foot offshore supply ships, the partners have announced.

Trico (Nasdaq: TRMA) valued the deal at $35 million.

Construction will start at Bender’s Mobile shipyard during the first quarter of next year, and should add 75 to 100 employees to Bender’s current staff of 850, said Frank Terrell Jr., vice president of sales and marketing.