New Orleans, LA., November 8, 2006 - Bollinger Gulf Repair L.L.C., (BGR), a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., facility, has completed the retrofit and modifications of a Penn Maritime Inc. oceans tank barge to an OPA ‘90 compliant articulated unit.

The 360-foot, 66,500 barrel black oil Barge POTOMAC arrived at Bollinger's New Orleans east facility and began the transformation from a single sided hull to double hull vessel with a new outer skin to meet the requirements of OPA '90. Her stern was modified and outfitted with the Beacon JAK connection system. The barges heating system received additional heating coils and a new 12 million BTU Vapower unit. A ballast system and a twelve-foot bow plug, along with an updated electrical system, were part of the conversions. When the POTOMAC's conversions were completed she departed the Bollinger facility measuring 372-feet with a capacity of approximately 80,000 barrels.

Executive vice president for Bollinger, Ben Bordelon said, "Our communications with the customer and our dedicated employees were the key to the successful completion of this project. I cannot say enough about Penn and their team who supported Bollinger, and helped make this program a success."

The POTOMAC is converted and inspected to the applicable rules of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) of shipping for Class Maltese A-1 Oil Tank Barge and the U. S. Coast Guard for the carriage of petroleum products of Grade A and lower for Unmanned Services in Oceans.

With the re-delivery of the POTOMAC fully OPA ‘90 compliant, Penn has followed its departure with the contracting of the Penn No. 410 to Bollinger Gulf Repair for the double hull retrofit and modifications.

Penn Maritime, Inc., (http://www.pennmaritime.com) currently owns and operates 20 barges and 13 tugboats and is one of the largest U.S. coastal transporters of heated petroleum products.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., owns and operates 13 shipyards strategically located between New Orleans and Houston with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River and Intracoastal Waterway. Bollinger is the largest vessel repair/conversion company in the Gulf of Mexico region with a total of 40 dry-docks in Louisiana and Texas. Bollinger is also a leading provider of new construction and other services to offshore energy, commercial and government marine markets.