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Avondale
Though organized in 1938, Avondale Shipyard did not begin building ocean-going ships until the 1950s. From 1959 to 1985, the shipyard operated as a subsidiary of Ogden Corporation (a diversified New York Stock Exchange listed company). Avondale builds both military and commercial vessels. Prior to the 1980s, they built an astounding 27 destroyer escorts for the US Navy.
In the early 1980s, Avondale was among the first of US shipyards to successfully implement modular construction techniques that had previously only been used by Japanese shipbuilders. Some US Navy vessels built or under construction at Avondale during the 1980s were: sixteen T-AOs, five LSDs, fours LSD-CVs, five AOJs, one T-AGS 45, fifteen LCACs, four MHCs, and three SL 7 conversions.
Avondale Industries Incorporated's headquarters and main shipyard are located on the west bank of the Mississippi River at Avondale, Louisiana, approximately 15 miles from downtown New Orleans. It is one of the largest shipbuilders in the United States.
Most of Avondale's contracts of late have been US Navy surface ships. Although, it did secure some of its largest commercial contracts as well during the last couple of years. An example of a commercial contract they received is the 1997 contract for the construction of two 125,000 Dead Weight Tons (DWT) crude oil carriers for the Jones Act Trade.
In December 1996, an alliance led by Avondale was awarded a $641 million contract to construct the initial ship in the US Navy's LPD-17 program. According to the agreement, Avondale would construct the first two ships and Bath Iron Works the third.
In 1999, Avondale was acquired by Litton Industries. In May 2000, Litton Avondale Industries, a division of Litton Industries, was awarded a $477.7 million contract by the US Navy for the construction of LPD 20, the fourth in a planned 12-ship program.
Sources:
- Litton Avondale
