USA: Bollinger Shipyards Announces Retirement of Its Vice President

Lockport, La., Bollinger Texas City, L.P., (BTC) a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. facility, announced the upcoming retirement of its Vice President and General Manager, Max Sparre.

Sparre’s retirement was announced by Bollinger Executive Vice President, Ben Bordelon, giving an overview of Sparre’s 51 years of service to the shipyard industry and the Bollinger group of shipyards. In addition to the announcement of Sparre’s upcoming retirement early next year, Bordelon also announced that Monty Bludworth, Assistant General Manager at Bollinger’s Texas City facility, will move into the position of General Manager immediately.

The career of Max Sparre started back in Brunswick, Georgia at the age of 12, working beside his father in the family’s boat yard. After his tour in the US Air Force, Sparre relocated to Texas to a career in the shipyard industry with companies such as Hollywood Boat Works, Bludworth Shipyards, New Park Ship Repair, Bludworth Bond Shipyards, and Halter Marine. In 2000, Bollinger purchased the Texas City facility, and Max has been a vital member of the Bollinger family since.

When asked about his years in the industry Sparre said, “I am proud to have had a major role in building Bollinger Texas City into the strong shipyard that it is today. For the past 26 years I have been fortunate to work with some very good people at Bollinger Texas City. I consider them my family, and for this I am very grateful. As I pass on my responsibilities to Monty, I am confident that he will provide solid leadership to Bollinger Texas City in the years to come.”

As a protégé of Sparre since the early 80’s, Monty Bludworth worked his way through the ranks of the shipyard from Helper, when his father owned the facility as Bludworth Bond Shipyard, to Foreman, Quality and HR Coordinator, Project Manager and in 2007 as the Assistant General Manager of BTC. Bordelon said, “We are very fortunate to have had Monty develop under Max’s guidance over the years. He has proven repeatedly his ability to rise to any challenge and service our clients. I look forward to Monty not only continuing Max’s vision but creating his own legacy at Texas City.”

The BTC facility is one of ten Bollinger shipyards. Of the ten facilities eight are repair and conversion locations, and two are new construction locations. The BTC location is known for its deep draft and convenience off of the Houston Ship Channel at Dock No. 42, with three large dry-docks and a large finger pier for topside repairs, load-outs and fabrication. “Max and Monty have been an important part of Bollinger Texas City’s growth and improvements since we acquired the facility in 2000. We are very proud of what Max has done at the facility, and we are very confident that Monty will maintain the growth and can-do attitude that has been a trademark of the facility.” said Bordelon.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. is a leading designer and builder of offshore oilfield support vessels, tug boats, ocean-going double hull barges, rigs, liftboats, inland waterways push boats and barges, fast military patrol boats and other steel and aluminum products from its new construction shipyards. Bollinger is the largest vessel repair company in the Gulf of Mexico region with a total of 28 dry-docks in Louisiana and Texas. Bollinger has 10 shipyards and all are strategically located between New Orleans and Houston with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway.

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Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, May 4, 2012; Image: Bollinger Shipyards