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Sneed Shipbuilding was founded by Martin M. Sneed in 1965, and many of the principles upon which it was founded: quality, integrity and efÞ ciency, are as valid today as ever. Today Sneed is co-owned and operated by Clyde Sneed (MartinÕs son) and Mitch Jones, a partnership that relies on the quality creed of the past while looking toward future expansion from its towboat and barge roots to the burgeoning offshore market and beyond. It was just three years ago, in June 2009, that ClydeÕs father Martin sold the business to Clyde and Mitch, and the move has paid off handsomely, with the company growing from 30 employees in 2009 to about 180 employees today. Today the company operates out of its main facility, nearly 40 acres in Channelview, TX, about 15 minutes due east of Houston, as well as a smaller yard (about three acres) in Orange, TX and the recently acquired Central Gulf Shipyard, LLC, in New Iberia, LA. The New Iberia yard is a full service shipyard located on the Commerical Canal in the Port of Iberia, specialized in offshore liftboat newbuild and repair; cornerstone to the companyÕs plan to further diversify its business from its inland core to include the offshore industry. Sneed is now starting construction of its Þ rst liftboat ever built in the Channelview facility, and in fact uses all three of its facilities to balance the work load efÞ ciently. Fuel for Growth Much of SneedÕs business centers around the carriage of liquid fuel, as it builds for some of the worldÕs leading inland tow and barge operators. ÒWe are in good with the liquid carriers, and this has kept us strong,Ó said Jones, noting that Sneed has and continues to build new vessels for the likes of Kirby, Settoon, Buffalo and Golding, among others. ÒOur business has been strong because of our business with the petrochemical industry. It is as recession proof of a business that you can get.Ó ÒThe major players are upgrading their ß eets now,Ó Sneed added. ÒSimply put, we try to build them better than anyone else. We take a lot of pride on the interior outÞ tting of the boat,Ó including small but important touches such as solid wood doors and furnishings, granite on the consoles if requested, and overall superior living facilities for the beneÞ t of crew and MN 51www.marinelink.com MNNov2012 Layout 50-65.indd 51MNNov2012 Layout 50-65.indd 5111/6/2012 4:19:51 PM11/6/2012 4:19:51 PM
