LOCKPORT, La., Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., (BMF), Amelia, La., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered B. No. 233, the second 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   "Bouchard is pleased to have taken delivery of our second double hull 35,000 BBL barge, which moves us closer to 100 percent of our fleet being double hulled. We are looking forward to the delivery of the B. No. 260 next month, and the B. No. 284, B. No. 262, and B. No. 264 in 2009 and 2010, which will complete our current construction phase.”

The B. No. 233 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.

BMF delivered the sister ship, B. No. 231 in July of 2007.   BMF is building the B. No. 262 and the B. No. 264, both 60,000 BBL OPA’90 tank barges that are scheduled for delivery during the first quarter of 2009 and first quarter of 2010.   Bollinger will also deliver the B. No. 260, a 60,000 BBL OPA’90 tank barge, in the third quarter 2008, and the B. No. 284, an 80,000 BBL OPA’90 tank barge, during the second quarter of 2009 from the Bollinger Gretna facility for Bouchard.

Ben Bordelon, executive vice president of Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. said, "Bollinger’s success with new building and repair projects for Bouchard is directly attributed to Bouchard’s confidence in Bollinger and our skilled workforce.  Our dedication to building the best OPA'90 tank barges is reflected in these units to Bouchard and all of the units we have built for the marine industry."

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.