Vigor Merges With Aluminum Workboat Builder Kvichak Marine

Kvichak Marine Industries and Vigor Industrial have introduced that the 2 corporations are merging to attract bigger initiatives and extra jobs to the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

Under the phrases of the merger, Kvichak will develop into a completely owned subsidiary of Vigor. Kvichak’s present house owners, Jim Meckley, Brian Thomas and Keith Whittemore, will be part of Vigor as shareholders and proceed management roles throughout the merged firm.

“My partners and I are very excited to be joining Vigor. Sharing best ideas and practices across companies will make us even more competitive and create a more stable business base for our workers,” mentioned Keith Whittemore, president of Kvichak. “Vigor shares our values and our dedication to offering long run alternative to our individuals.

Founded in 1981 in Seattle, Washington, Kvichak Marine, pronounced Kweejack, specializes within the design and building of top quality aluminum workboats. The firm has constructed 700 vessels utilized by industrial fishermen, regulation enforcement, hearth departments, offshore oil spill response groups, passenger vessel house owners, the United States Coast Guard and each home and overseas navy. The firm additionally has in depth expertise within the industrial fisheries of Alaska constructing gillnetters, seiners and tenders.

“Kvichak brings amazing fabrication talent to our company and some of the best customer relationships in the industry,” mentioned Vigor CEO and proprietor Frank Foti. “The Kvichak team builds the best aluminum workboats in the country, arguably the world. Infusing those fabrication genetics into our broader operations is what industrial evolution is all about. What could be better than creating a team that allows most new fishing boats to be built where they work—in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.”

The transaction builds on the 2014 Vigor and Oregon Iron Works (OIW) merger, which expanded Vigor’s attain into extremely complicated industrial merchandise in marine, renewable power, aerospace, nuclear containment, transit, protection, hydroelectric, bridge constructing, and different industrial building industries.

“With Kvichak on board, we also see enormous opportunity to strengthen our role in supporting offshore oil and gas operations in the Arctic,” mentioned Foti. “The synergy between Vigor, OIW and Kvichak provides the ability to fabricate larger and more complex components, and expand our offerings for building offshore support vessels, oil spill response vessels and systems, modules, rigs, terminals and related structures.”

The mixed firm will make use of about 2,500 individuals in Alaska, Oregon and Washington.