Bollinger Shipyards given safety award

Bollinger Shipyards Inc. received the “Award For Excellence In Safety” from the Shipyard Council of America (SCA) during the association’s general membership meeting last month.

With a total recordable incident rate in 2007 of 3.20, Bollinger fell well below the SCA’s average rate, which was 5.86.

According to SCA officials, last year’s total incident rate was members’ lowest ever.

Bollinger Shipyards Inc. Chairman and CEO Donald “Boysie” Bollinger was on hand in Washington, D.C., to accept the award.

“This is the result of Bollinger employees staying focused on safety and watching out for each other, and again their efforts have been noticed by the shipbuilding repair industry,” he said.

“Thanks to our dedicated employees, Bollinger Shipyards remains one of the safest shipyards in America.”

Ian Bennitt, SCA manager of government affairs, touted the record-setting incident rate, as well as Bollinger’s emergence as a safety leader. “With SCA’s (rate) being our lowest ever at 5.86, it truly is an honor and is indicative of Bollinger’s commitment to safety,” he said.

SCA is a national trade association that solely represents the U.S. shipyard industry. It includes approximately 40 member companies that collectively own 100 shipyards in the United States, as well as 25 affiliate members that provide goods and services to the shipyard industry.

Bollinger Shipyards Inc. operates 13 shipyards between New Orleans and Houston.

The largest vessel repair company in the Gulf of Mexico region, Bollinger provides offshore and inland offshore support vessels, OPA’90 tank barges, tugs, drilling rigs, liftboats, fast patrol boats and other steel and aluminum products.

Bollinger Shipyards Inc. Chairman and CEO Donald “Boysie” Bollinger (second from left) accepts the Award for Excellence in Safety from the Shipyard Council of America. Also pictured, from left, are Ian Bennitt, SCA manager, government affairs, and Matt Paxton, SCA president. * Photo courtesy of BOLLINGER SHIPYARDS