Lockport , LA., Aug 6, 2009 - Bollinger Gretna, L.L.C.,  Harvey, LA, a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered B. No. 284, a double hull 80,000 BBL oil tank barge built to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA’90) to Bouchard Ocean Services, Melville, NY.    

Barge B. No. 284 is a manned ocean, clean oil tank barge measuring 399-feet, 11-inches long, with a 74-foot beam and a depth of 28-feet, 6-inches.   The barge is built to, and certified by American Bureau of Shipping and United States Coast Guard to meet the requirements of OPA’90 with twelve (12) cargo compartments and three (3) separate pumping systems. The barge is equipped with three (3) Byron Jackson cargo pumps, driven by John Deere engines, Model 6125HF070 Series, and the deck is equipped with two (2) Techcrane model C 30-60 electric-hydraulic cranes.

"Bollinger’s success in building OPA’90 tank barges and their support vessels is directly attributed to our loyal customers, like Bouchard,” said Chris Bollinger, Bollinger’s executive vice president of new construction.  "Bouchard continues to work with us on new opportunities, and maintains a working relationship with Bollinger that does not end with the delivery of a new piece of equipment, but it continues on as the vessels require regulatory inspections and upgrades with our Repair Division,” said Bollinger.

The  B. No 284 is the second barge of a three barge agreement between Bollinger and Bouchard.  The B. No. 262, a 60,000 BBL OPA’90 compliant barge was delivered to Bouchard in April of 2009 and was the first of the three barge program.  The remaining barge to be delivered from Bollinger is the 60,000 BBL B. No 264, a clean oil barge scheduled for delivery in March 2010 from Bollinger Marine Fabricators, LLC.

Morton S. Bouchard, III, President/CEO of Bouchard Affiliates (Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc. / Bouchard Coastwise Management / Bouchard Ocean Services) said, "Bouchard is pleased to have taken delivery of yet another flat deck double hull Intercon barge, B. No.284. The B. No.284 will be followed with the B. No.264 which concludes Bouchard’s present new building program. Bouchard is very pleased with the vessels Bollinger continues to build for Bouchard, and looks forward to future constructions with Bollinger."

Founded in 1918, Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., and Bouchard Coastwise Management Co. (www.bouchardtransport.com) is a total service oil barging company. The Bouchard fleet includes 25 barges ranging from 25,000 BBL to 252,000 BBL and 19 tugs with power ratings from 3,000 to 10,000 horsepower. They serve the U. S. East, Gulf and West Coasts, the Great Lakes, and the Caribbean.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. (www.bollingershipyards.com) is a leading designer and builder of ocean-going double hull barges, offshore oil field support vessels, 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 12 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 32 dry-docks in Louisiana and Texas.