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MR: Can you share with us a person- al story or two that best illustrates the resilience of your company/your peo- ple? Bollinger: Communications became a huge issue right after Katrina. We were able to get our management back together quickly and under very difficult condition since some of them had lost their homes and we had to get them and their families into housing and schools. Through all of this, they were there, dealing with all of the difficulties of try- ing to get "Bollinger" back on line. MR: What investments are Bollinger Shipyards making today that are intended for the long-term health of the company? Bollinger: New drydocks, improved infrastructure and bulkheading, more focused hurricane preparedness will all make Bollinger Shipyards a better com- pany. MR: What do you consider the top priorities, project wise, for your com- pany in the coming 12 to 24 months? Bollinger: Focusing on continuing to get a workforce back up and running, dealing with construction of new dry- docks and facilities while our customers are demanding more and more of our services. Locations for moving ship- yards and building new ones. We will have our plate full. MR: Briefly describe your outlook for the business in 2006 and beyond? Bollinger: We feel that the demand for our products and services will be very strong. We are preparing ourselves to be ready to assist our customers in their new construction, repair and conversion needs. MR: What markets, by vessel niche, do you see as being lucrative in the coming years? Which segments do you see on the decline? Bollinger: We don't see any decline. The strongest will be the oil and gas service industry, the OPA '90 oil trans- port market and the government mar- kets. We feel that the inland market will remain strong without much change. MR: What do you consider to be the biggest challenges (ie. Legislation, technical demand, competition, etc.) to your company's continued success? Bollinger: We constantly are concerned with any actions that could affect our ability to get and sustain a workforce. Training that workforce will remain a very high priority for our entire industry. Bollinger History: Celebrating 60 Years In 1946 Donald Bollinger had a dream to establish a business that would grow slowly but surely to provide jobs for the area residents and provide security for the growing Bollinger family. Bollinger Machine Shop and Shipyards was begun by Donald in a small wooden building constructed on the bayouside south of Lockport, Louisiana on the banks of Bayou Lafourche. The work in the area consisted of farming, small wooden and steel tugs, fishing boats and general machine work. With his brothers Ralph, a mechanic and George, a welder, along with brother-in- law Pappy Boyd, Mr. Bud, Donald's father and Dick, the youngest brother, who with his degree from L.S.U., became president of Bollinger Shipyards, the dream became a reality. The beginning was humble and the guys worked hard. They soon earned a reputation for their efficient service and innovation in marine repair. It wasn't long after the Bollinger's got their little business underway that the oilfield boom in South Louisiana started. The demand for larger, more specialized ves- sels, inland and offshore, helped their company grow by leaps and bounds. As the company grew, so did the fam- ilies. Many of the descendents of the founders found themselves assuming major roles in the evolution of the ship- yard business. They performed difficult tasks and worked hard under the watch- ful eye of their predecessors. The young ones learned well and brought their own energies and talents to the business. 34 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News 2006WorldYearbook2006WorldYearbook2006WorldYearbook In the wake of the hurricanes, Bollinger counted people and housing as its greatest challenge in resu- ing business as usual. Winning the Coast Guard contract in 1984 was a company highlight, as it kept the yards busy dur- ing the oil and gas downturn, and established a good business relationship with a valued customer. (Continued on page 65) MR JUNE2006 #5 (33-40).qxd 6/2/2006 11:13 AM Page 34
