VT Halter Marine's Pascagoula yard launches its largest ship ever, carrier Marjorie C

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Marjorie C hit the waters of Bayou Casotte with a mighty splash and hearty applause during a VT Halter Marine launching ceremony Saturday morning.

The process was first painstakingly slow, as workers removed more than a dozen blocks that kept the 692-foot-long vessel in place onshore.

As the last block was removed, workers hightailed it out of the ship's way, and Marjorie C sped down its launch legs and plunged sideways into the water, creating an impressive wave.

Several hundred workers and company leaders looked on with pride as the roll-on/roll-off car truck carrier steadied itself and tugs approached to keep it from straying too far.

The successful launch is "a tribute to all of the workers for all the hard work that went into building such a beautiful ship," VT Halter CEO Bill Skinner said today.

"This is just one more milestone on the way to delivery in late October," he said. "This is the largest vessel that we've built. It's a ConRo ship, which means it will move tractor trailers, automobiles and containers."

Marjorie C has the ability to carry 1,500 TEUs above and under deck, as well as vehicles and over-high and wide cargo on 10 workable decks, and it will have a vehicle shipping capacity of 2,750 units.

"It's a very complete vessel that allows for a lot of types of cargo to be carried," Skinner said.

Due to the expected wave action, the Coast Guard had closed the waters around the yard during the launch.

At more than 25,000 metric tons, Marjorie C is the largest vessel ever launched by VT Halter.

It's being built for Honolulu-based Pasha Hawaii, which offers transport between the West Coast and Hawaii for a variety of vehicles, yachts, heavy machinery and oversized cargo.

"We have a great customer that has supported the yard over the years with a lot of work," Skinner said.

In February 2011, the companies signed the $144 million construction contract for the ship, which will enter the Hawaii/Mainland trade lane.

The newest ship is the second VT Halter-built vessel to join Pasha Hawaii's fleet, and it will allow the company to provide weekly service between the West Coast and Hawaii. It is based on a design by the Uljanik Shipyard in Croatia.

Pasha's first VT Halter-built ship, Jean Anne, was put into service in 2005.

When the Marjorie C contract was signed in 2011, the company also signed an option agreement for construction of a third vessel with a base price of $137 million.

Skinner said VT Halter is still in talks with Pasha about the third ship, but the decision will ultimately be driven by market conditions.

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