Elmer "Lloyd" Matherne
February 15, 2010
Attempt to raise rates denied by insurance dept.
February 18, 2010
A Pierre Part-based company has been chosen to begin the first phase of a $17 million expansion, marking the move of an Amelia mooring services firm to the Port of Morgan City.
LA Contracting Enterprice LLC submitted the lowest bid of $1.89 million to lay the groundwork for InterMoor, which is based in Amelia.
InterMoor is the only worldwide mooring company offering full-service, temporary mooring solutions. The company also designs and installs engineering systems, offers provisions for mooring systems lease and sales and offers installation crews to inspect, maintain and repair mooring components.
According to company officials, the site will span over 24 acres at Morgan City’s port.
The project is touted as one of the area’s biggest since Oceaneering completed its $27 million construction in 2007, according to Cindy Cutrera, marketing director for the port. Oceaneering’s Americas division stretches over 38.5 acres.
“InterMoor is very important to the Morgan City/Berwick/ Amelia region, as well as to Louisiana,” Curtrera said.
A member of the Acteon Group of Norwich England, InterMoor has offices in Port Fourchon, Lafayette and Houston, as well as eight other worldwide sites.
Morgan City port director Jerry Hoffpauir said InterMoor is growing jobs with its expansion. The company employs 212 people locally; over the next few years, 300 new jobs will be created. Hoffpauir said the expected average salary of those workers is $60,000 annually, plus benefits.
Additionally, Cutrera said LED estimates indicate the company will generate more than $8 million in new state tax revenues and $7 million in new local tax revenues in its first 5 years of operation.
InterMoor’s search for new digs began in 2009, when the company announced it had outgrown its Amelia site. The hunt included several Texas and Louisiana locations, according to Hoffpauir.
Through the state’s Port Priority Fund, the Port of Morgan City was able to provide a $6.6 million bond to attract the company. An additional $1.5 million in funding is being provided by Louisiana’s Economic Development.
“With the state’s departments of transportation and economic development reacting immediately and decisively, a large company was convinced to stay in the State of Louisiana, not only preserving jobs, but a way of life as well,” Hoffpauir said.
InterMoor expects to be fully operational at the Morgan City port by April.
With the expansion, Curtrera said, “The port is quickly becoming the economic engine it is supposed to be for the area.”
Mac Wade, president of the Port of Morgan City Commission (left), Jim Corbett, Whitney Bank city president (center) and Jerry Hoffpauir, Morgan City port director, sign a $6.6 million bond issue for the InterMoor development. * Photo by HOWARD J. CASTAY JR.
