Harvey, La.-based Bollinger Quick Repair (BQR), part of the Bollinger Shipyards LLC family of companies, recently took delivery of a new 3,400-ton drydock named “Mr. Eddie.”
“We are very pleased to announce the delivery and availability of the drydock Mr. Eddie to our Bollinger Quick Repair facility,” said Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards. “I want to congratulate Mr. Eddie Barnes, an outstanding Bollinger employee of 47 years. We are proud of you to be a part of the Bollinger family.”
Barnes joined Bollinger Shipyards on June 29, 1972, and he has served as dockmaster, foreman and superintendent. Over the years, Barnes helped coordinate drydock, construction and crane operations at Bollinger Quick Repair, located on the Harvey Canal near the west bank of the Mississippi River.
“His wealth of shipyard knowledge and eagerness to get the job done has earned the respect and trust of many customers,” the shipyard said in announcing the drydock. “Eddie’s main focus has always been ensuring the customer is taken care of.
“When not at work, Eddie enjoys cooking and fishing with family and friends,” the announcement continued. “The Bollinger family congratulates Eddie on his career here at BQR and looks forward to many more years to come.”
The drydock Mr. Eddie measures just over 219 feet by 84 feet and has a wing wall depth of 15 feet. The 3,400-ton drydock was built in Bollinger’s Amelia, La., shipyard.
Bollinger operates 10 shipyard facilities, all in Louisiana with connections to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River and Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The company designs and builds vessels ranging from military patrol boats, tugs, towboats and liftboats to inland and ocean-going barges, offshore support vessels and rigs, along with other steel and aluminum products.
Donald Bollinger launched Bollinger Shipyards in 1946 along Bayou Lafourche. Following World War II, Bollinger’s three brothers joined the business, which has grown from its roots near Lockport, La., to locations along the south Louisiana coast.
Caption for photo: Eddie Barnes stands in front of his namesake drydock, the Mr. Eddie, which was built for Bollinger Quick Repair by Bollinger Shipyards’ Amelia, La., yard. (Photo courtesy of Bollinger Shipyards)