Business

POSTED: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009

All American Marine gets stimulus money to improve shipyard

BELLINGHAM - All American Marine was among 10 Washington boatyards to receive funding for infrastructure improvements from the federal stimulus package.

According to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who made the announcement Tuesday, Aug. 18, the boat builder will get $297,827 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Matt Mullett, president and CEO of All American Marine, said the money will be used in a variety of ways, including upgrading welding equipment and improving work areas. The company will match 25 percent of the funding, or about $75,000, to complete the improvements.

"As soon as we get the official notice, we'll start getting to work on those improvements," Mullett said.

The company has been busy in recent months landing projects and in the coming weeks will be expanding to 45 employees. In April it was awarded a $5.3 million contract to build a high-speed, low-wake passenger ferry for Kitsap Transit. Mullett said the hull for that project is nearly completed, and they continue to work on hydrofoil technology design with Western Washington University.

The company is also in the design phase of building two 72-foot commuter ferries for use on the East Coast. The company expects to begin welding work in October.

"We're grateful to have been able to find this amount of work during this (economic) downturn," Mullett said.

All American Marine was the only Whatcom County shipyard to receive funding. Others in Western Washington to get money include Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle ($1.9 million), Kvichak Marine Industries in Seattle ($1.1 million) and Everett Shipyard ($439,497).