Southwest Marine, Inc., San Diego, Calif., recently announced that it had been awarded a $813,991 contract by John J. McMullen Associates, Inc., Ventura, Calif., to convert an LST to a barge.
The conversion will be performed at Southwest Marine's San Diego facilities according to Arthur Engel, president.
The overall conversion involves the removal of the superstructure and main deck areas so that only the second deck remains. The barge, upon completion, will be used to carry cargo to San Nicholas Island off Ventura. After the barge is beached, cargo will be discharged over the bow ramp.
Southwest Marine, Inc. has three full-service shipyards located in San Diego, San Pedro and San Francisco.