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La. Shipbuilder Finds Home At Tampa Port

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: November 19, 2008

TAMPA - A highly regarded Louisiana shipbuilder is establishing an operation at the Port of Tampa, buying the Tampa Bay Shipbuilding & Repair Co.'s lease and retaining its 500 employees with plans to add workers and trades.

Not only is Tampa gaining a shipbuilder, but it also gains a pro basketball aficionado with company owner Gary Chouest, who bought a 25 percent share of the New Orleans Hornets in 2007.

Edison Chouest Offshore, the company Chouest's father, Edison, founded with a single boat nearly 50 years ago, operates six shipyards along the Gulf Coast and in Brazil and builds custom yachts in Stuart.

Chouest will operate here as the newly formed Tampa Ship LLC. It will begin construction of a $30 million, 300-foot vessel in January at the port to service oil and gas platforms, Gary Chouest said.
Tampa Bay Shipbuilding & Repair will turn over its lease and assets in December. The terms of the deal were not revealed.

"We intend to expand our capabilities in Tampa to build new vessels," Chouest said Tuesday.

Trades such as carpenters will be added to accommodate the shipbuilding mission, Chouest said.
Tampa Ship has agreed to generate at least $860,000 in annual rent through 2027 and pay for dredging slips within the lease premises to a 30-foot depth.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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