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Passenger Vessel Report Blount-Barker Shipbuilding Formed Blount-Barker Shipbuilding Corporation was recent- ly formed and James A. Barker has been named the President and CEO. Blount-Barker, based in Warren, R.I., specializes in the design and shipbuilding of tug- boats, cruise ships, high-speed ferries and dinner and passenger vessels. The new company takes over the activities of the Blount Marine and Blount Industries entities, and operates as a separate corporation. As part of the new venture, Mr. Barker assumes management of Blount's shipyard and personnel, with the option to purchase the operations should they be sold in the future. .ARGEST INVENTORY OF NEW & USED IN THE U.S.A. CHAINS FAX: 713/644-1185 WATTS: 800/233-8014 PHONE: 713/644-1183 P.O. BOX 58645 HOUSTON, TX 77258 ALL ANCHORS & CHA1 ABS, LLOYDS GRADE 2, 3, K-4 CHAIN & FITTINGS www.anchormarinehouston.com gabriel@anchormarinehouston.com Circle 205 on Reader Service Card 26 www.maritimetoday.com "Jim Barker brings complementary experience that will greatly enhance the capabilities of the new Blount- Barker venture," said Luther H. Blount, founder of Blount Marine and Blount Industries. Blount, 84, will remain active in the day-to-day shipyard operation for Blount-Barker. "Through this new venture, we intend to maximize the superior naval architecture design and shipbuilding capabilities of Blount Marine and Blount Industries," said Jim Barker. "We also plan to expand into larger commercial vessels in the coming years," he added. Blount Marine was founded in 1949 by Luther Blount, and today extends over six acres in Warren with a staff of more than 50. Blount Marine has been an innovator in the shipbuilding industry for more than half a century. Luther Blount holds 21 U.S patents for numerous inventions, including the stern trawler and the net/drum technology. Before forming Blount-Barker Shipbuilding, Barker worked for Interlake Steamship Company, Richfield, Ohio. His most recent project was as the construction supervisor for a 7,200-hp Z-drive tug and a 600-ft. self- unloading barge for the Great Lakes. Barker joined Interlake in 1987 as a supervisor of unlicensed person- nel, managing all of the company's unlicensed crewing for vessels. Barker was soon promoted to director of personnel, responsible for 350 people and 10 vessels. Barker also explored and organized new business opportunities to help diversify Interlake. In 1996, after earning his MBA from Case Western, Barker was pro- moted to assistant vice president and was responsible for all aspects of a $25 million tug/barge project. This endeavor provided many new opportunities for Inter- lake. Barker received his undergraduate degree from Franklin Pierce College in Newton, N.H. Blount: 1949 to Present In 1949, Luther H. Blount decided to try his hand at shipbuilding by designing and constructing a 77-ft. steel catamaran. Using this same design, he bid and won his first contract to construct a fuel oil service ves- sel which used two cylindrical floats, dubbed the "twin tube." This twin tube was succeeded by progressively larg- er and more complex vessels, resulting in a quantum expansion of the shipyard and demolition of the Blount home on the Warren River in Rhode Island. New facil- ities were constructed in its place including a slipway, two building sheds and a lift dock configured for launching and drydocking. Over the past 50 years, Blount has designed and built more than 300 vessels of all types. The company also provides operational sup- Luther Blount aboard his first-ever vessel, Rhodoyster Jr. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News MISS LIBERTY Miss Liberty, built by Blount for Circle Line, has carried more than 60 million passengers.
