Lockport, LA., July 31, 2007 - Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., Amelia, La., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered B. No. 231, the first of two double hull, 35,000 barrel (BBL) oil tank barge units built to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA’90), to Bouchard Ocean Services, Melville, N.Y.

Morton S. Bouchard III, president and chief executive officer of Bouchard Affiliates, said "The delivery of the B. No. 231 is another step forward for Bouchard, and our commitment to our customers to provide the highest quality equipment that meets their changing needs.  The Bollinger design, along with their manufacturing process and skilled labor force, insure that we are getting paramount barges, tugs and service for our new and existing fleet.”

The B. No. 231 is a manned, clean oil, oceans tank barge measuring 300-feet long, with a 64-foot beam and a depth of 21-feet.   The barge has ten cargo tanks, with Byron Jackson cargo pumps, driven by John Deere engines.  The barge has accommodations with full galley for four, and is classed ABS, +A1 Oil Tank Barge, Manned Oceans.

The sister ship, B. No. 233 is scheduled to deliver from Bollinger Marine Fabricators in the second quarter of 2008.  Bollinger will also be delivering the 80,000 BBL, B. No. 282 in the 4th quarter of 2007, and the B. No. 260, a 60,000 BBL in the 3rd quarter 2008, from the Bollinger Gretna facility.

"We have been successful in working with Bouchard from our new construction, as well as our repair/conversion facilities” said Donald "Boysie” Bollinger, chairman and chief executive officer of Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., "The diversity of our shipyards and workforce maintains our ability to provide customers like Bouchard with a single point of contact to respond to their demands in the marine market for new construction, conversions and repairs.”

Bouchard conversion projects at Bollinger Gulf Repair and Bollinger Algiers are moving forward with the tank barge B. No. 295, previously B. No. 195, being transformed from a single hull to double hull vessel to meet the requirements of OPA ’90, with her tug, the 127-foot, BOUCHARD GIRLS, as well as the tug ELLEN S. BOUCHARD at Bollinger Algiers undergoing regulatory renewals and upgrades. The B. No. 295, BOUCHARD GIRLS and ELLEN S. BOUCHARD will be retrofit with the Intercon connection system.

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 28 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 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.