MarAd awards $9.8 million in shipyard grants

MarAd awards $9.8 million in shipyard grants    The U.S. Maritime Administration has awarded $9.8 million in grants to 19 small shipyards as part of the new “Assistance to Small Shipyards” program.
   The program was set up under the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2006 and funded in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008.

Connaughton

   “Small shipyards are vitally important for the health of the maritime industry, and for the economy of the nation,” said Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton.
   The purpose of the grants is to make capital and infrastructure improvements that facilitate the efficiency, cost-effectiveness and quality of domestic ship construction, conversion or repair for commercial and federal government use. The grants cover a maximum of 75 percent of the estimated cost of improvements; the companies are responsible for the remainder.
   Recipients, amounts and purposes of grants include:
   ' Alaska Ship and Drydock of Ketchikan, Alaska, was awarded $615,805 to upgrade its metal equipment, machine shop and painting equipment.
   ' All American Marine Inc., Bellingham, Wash., was awarded $285,000 for the acquisition of metal cutting machinery and boat transfer equipment.
   ' Everett Shipyard Inc., Everett, Wash., $297,036 for work stations and an overhead crane.
   ' Pacific Shipyards International LLC, Honolulu, $869,977 for a water blast system and a mobile crane.
   ' R&R Marine Shipbuilding, Port Arthur, Texas, $400,000 for acquisition and installation of a stiffener fitting gantry, facility electrical upgrades and the cost to install a panel line fabrication facility.
   ' Safe Boats, Port Orchard, Wash., $579,084 for acquisition and installation of router tables, information technology system upgrades and other machinery and equipment.
   ' Todd Shipyards Corp., Seattle, $358,515 to enlarge and renovate their main assembly building.