December 17, 2019, marks the five-year anniversary of the acquisition of Blakeley BoatWorks by the Cooper Group of Companies. In that time, the facility has grown from 18 employees to nearly 120 to become a Gulf Coast leader for shipbuilding and repair with its world-class team and convenient location to the Warrior Tombigbee Waterway, Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Situated on 26 acres along the Mobile River, the facility is a full-service shipyard with active marine repair projects, new build construction, and multiple field service capabilities. Consisting of a 1,900-short-ton capacity floating Dry Dock and a 660-short-ton Travelift, Blakeley BoatWorks has a professional and skilled workforce committed to the highest standards of quality and safety.
The company’s thriving safety culture is focused on associate participation and peer leadership with a safety program based on the concept of “One Degree of Change Every Day.” Blakeley BoatWorks is proud that its team is on track to complete 2019 without a Lost Time Accident. Throughout the year, to thank them for their continued vigilance, employees have been rewarded with quarterly safety celebrations. In addition, the Safety Recognition Program holds drawings each month, rewarding four nominated employees with recognition and the accountability has helped promote the “Team Succeeds” mentality. The team believes safety isn’t just about numbers, as the facility strives to focus on its people daily. This, in turn, provides dividends in the form of reduced down time, consistent work performance, and better teamwork between associates, contractors and service partners.
In 2017 Blakeley BoatWorks started a maintenance division with first-class engine technicians, electricians, crane and heavy equipment mechanics, electronics and HVAC repairs. The division is responsible for keeping Cooper Marine and Timberlands’ (CMT) crane and rolling stock operational, M&R and overhauls on CMT and Crescent Towing vessels, as well as service to outside customers. Customers vary across multiple industries, including inland river pushboats, ship-assist tugboats, offshore vessels, marine research vessels, and even dinner cruise boats.
Blakeley BoatWorks has successfully started its new construction program with its delivery of three 70ft, 1600HP inland pushboats for Plimsoll Marine of New Orleans. Not only constructing vessels to industry high standards, Blakeley BoatWorks also built the first COI Subchapter M vessel in the nation. They continue to build on this success as two more inland pushboats are currently under construction for CMT, one of which is a 110ft Tier 4 compliant 3400HP pushboat, which is expected to be the first of its class on the river. With a skilled and dedicated workforce, the program is projected to grow and supply the marine industry with valuable assets. The two pushboats under construction is expected to join the CMT fleet in Q4 of 2020.
As Blakeley BoatWorks surpasses itself with each new project – by not just meeting industry standards, but often exceeding them – the company has cemented itself as a leader in the field. To learn more, visit www.blakeleyboatworks.com.