Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. of Bayou La Batre receives award

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. of Bayou La Batre, Alabama was presented the Alabama Exporter of the Year award by the U. S. Small Business Administration on September 9, 2008. The ceremony took place aboard Horizon’s most recently completed vessel ready for delivery to its Nigerian customer, Fymak Marine & Oil Services Nigeria, Ltd. of Lagos, Nigeria. Presenting the award was Teresa Wilson, Public Information Officer of the SBA Birmingham office, accompanied by Brent McMahan of the Mobile SBA office and Brian Davis, Director of the Alabama International Trade Center in Tuscaloosa. The Exporter of the Year award is presented to a small business which has made significant impact on the local, state, and U. S. economy through its exporting experiences. Between 2002 and 2009 Horizon will have delivered over $60 million in exports to West Africa, Iraq, and Mexico. The setting for the ceremony was the M/V Chinyelugo, a 170’ aluminum crewboat destined for deployment off the coast of West Africa. The crewboat and its sister ship which will be completed by year’s end, will be leased by Fymak to Chevron to support oil and gas operations off the Nigerian coast. Also in attendance was Bayou La Batre Mayor Stan Wright who presented a proclamation in support of Horizon’s activities and its wholesome and beneficial influence on the growth of the community and its continued success. Horizon was established in Bayou La Batre in 1997 and constructs and repairs steel and aluminum vessels up to 300’ in length of steel and aluminum. For more information, please contact Travis Short, President, Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., 251-824-1660 x 222, trshort@horizonshipbuilding.com