VT Halter Marine
Lays Keel for U.S. Army’s LSV
GULFPORT, MS, March 13,
2003 – VT Halter Marine Inc., a subsidiary of Vision Technologies Systems Inc.
announced the start of the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armament Command’s (TACOM)
newest Logistic Support Vessel at a keel-laying ceremony today. The keel
laying is a long-recognized naval tradition, symbolic of laying down the
“backbone” (strength) of a ship and the commencement of construction.
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Keel-Laying Photo R to L: Boyd
E. (Butch) King, CEO VT Halter Marine; COL Genaro J. (Gino) Dellarocco,
U.S. Army; Anil Raj, President and COO, VT Halter Marine.
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“We
value the confidence and trust that the U.S. Army has placed in our
company and our employees,” said Butch King, CEO of VT Halter Marine.
“Our employees have first-hand experience in designing and building
Logistic Support Vessels, Large Tugs and LCU-2000 Class Landing Craft
that are specifically tailored to operational requirements. The
U.S. Army is a long-term marine customer and about 50 vessels in their
fleet have been built at our shipyards. We are very proud of the
fact that this vessel will be used to help support our fighting forces
and guard our national interests.”
The
313-foot LSV class vessel, designed to carry over 2,000 tons of deck
cargo, has a beam of 60-feet and a molded depth of 19-feet. VT
Halter Marine announced the Logistic Support Vessel (LSV) contract award
December 20, 2002. Vessel delivery should take place sometime
during the fourth quarter, 2004.
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VT Halter Marine Inc., based out of
Gulfport, Mississippi, is a leader in the design and construction of small- to
medium-sized ships in the United States. Acquired by VTS in October 2002,
VT Halter Marine designs, builds and repairs a wide variety of ocean going
vessels such as patrol vessels, oil recovery vessels, oil cargo vessels,
ferries, ocean barges and research ships.
Vision Technologies Systems Inc., is a
premier provider of integrated engineering solutions, specializing in the fields
of marine, aerospace, electronics and land systems. Headquartered in
Alexandria, Virginia, VTS is located throughout North America. VTS offers
a broad range of proven innovative services to both the commercial and
government sectors.
For additional information, please
contact:
Cynthia Borries
Corporate Communications Manager
VT Halter Marine, Inc.
Phone: 228-897-4985
Fax: 228-604-5869
Email: c.borries@vthaltermarine.com
Amy McCaskill
Corporate Communications Coordinator
VT Systems, Inc.
Phone: 703-739-2610
Fax: 703-739-2611
Email: amccaskill@vt-systems.com