Don't Give Up The Shipyard
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THE U.S. COMMERCIAL SHIPbuilding industry is sailing again. In 1993, American shipyards had no large, ocean-going vessels on order. But in 1994, there were 4; in 1995, 12.
Look at Tampa Shipyards, a unit of American Ship Building, once headed by New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Recently, the shipyard was sold in a bankruptcy court deal valued at more than $20 million to Delphi American Maritime--part of Greek-owned Forum Maritime. Initially, Delphi plans to do the heavy hull-constructing in Eastern Europe, and the more complex interior work in Tampa. In a few years, it wants to build entire ships at the Tampa yard.