MS: VT Halter Marine Breaks Ground on 400-Job Expansion in Pascagoula

Governor Phil Bryant and officials from VT Halter Marine announced a major expansion at the company's Port of Pascagoula shipyard, breaking ground on VT Halter Marine's new ship repair facility. The new facility will create 400 jobs.

VT Halter Marine, the marine operations division of VT Systems, is a leader in the design and new-build construction of medium and large-sized ships in the U.S. The company has three ship construction facilities, all located in Mississippi, with one facility in Pascagoula and two in Moss Point. The new ship repair facility, which is being constructed at the company's Pascagoula location, is expected to be operational by March 2014.

MDA provided assistance through the Hurricane Katrina Community Development Block Grant (K-CDBG) program for infrastructure improvements related to the project.

VT Halter Marine's three Gulf Coast facilities build vessels ranging from 200 to 720 feet, using modular fabrication to maximize productivity. The company currently has more than 2,000 employees at its Mississippi operations, with additional contractors and government personnel on site.

With 50 years of shipbuilding experience, VT Halter Marine's skilled craftsmen and engineers have built more than 2,015 vessels, and the company is an approved contractor for building to the requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and all major classification societies. To learn more, please visit www.vthaltermarine.com.

About Mississippi Development Authority

Mississippi Development Authority is the State of Mississippi’s lead economic and community development agency. Approximately 300 employees are engaged in providing services to businesses, communities and workers in the state. While the agency is best known for its efforts to recruit new businesses to Mississippi, MDA provides services to promote tourism, help communities improve their quality of place, help existing employers identify and meet opportunities and challenges and help workers improve their skills – all with the goal of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of Mississippians. For more information, visit MDA’s website at www.mississippi.org.