Bollinger Shipyards and Rigdon Marine Sign Contract for 10 New Platform Support Vessels

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., of Lockport, La., has announced the signing of a multi-vessel contract with Rigdon Marine Corporation.

Bollinger will build ten (10) platform supply vessels (PSV) for Rigdon Marine, based on a new GPA 654 Class, designed by Guido Perla & Associates. The design incorporates increased carrying capacity and greater operating efficiency, compared to similar sized vessels, while at the same time allowing simplified construction methods to reduce construction cost. All ten (10) vessels are planned to be built at Bollinger's Lockport La. facility.

Donald "Boysie" Bollinger, chairman and CEO of Bollinger said, "We are excited about our upcoming program with Rigdon Marine. I have worked along side of Larry and several of his team members for many years. The timing of this state of the art PSV program is ideal for both of our organizations, and I am confident that this program is only the first of several to come."

The GPA 654 Class of PSV is a newly designed vessel that measures 190-ft. x 46-ft x 18?ft. The vessels will be diesel-electric and classed ABS +A1+AMS+DP2, USCG Subchapter L and SOLAS.
Larry Rigdon, president and CEO of Rigdon Marine Corporation said, "Our organization is committed to the redevelopment of the State of Louisiana and having the next phase of our building program in Louisiana and at Bollinger is another reinforcement of that commitment."

Rigdon Marine Corporation, http://www.rigdonmarine.com, a closely held private company, with vessel operations based in Saint Rose, Louisiana, and support offices in Houston, Texas, is a leading provider of a new generation of technologically advanced offshore support vessels in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and select international markets.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. (http://www.bollingershipyards.com ) is a leading designer and builder of offshore oil field support vessels, OPA'90 double hull barges, tug boats, rigs, liftboats, inland waterways push boats and barges, fast military patrol boats and other steel and aluminum products from its three new construction shipyards. Bollinger has 13 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. Bollinger is the largest vessel repair company in the Gulf of Mexico region with a total of 40 dry-docks in Louisiana and Texas.