"Building Better Shipyards with Collaboration" Topic of Address by Chris Vaccari at April WorkBoat Maintenance & Repair Conference and Expo

    NEW ORLEANS, LA, February 16, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- With a challenging economy and current industry downturn, how can shipyards position themselves for future success? Chris Vaccari, who is the vice president of the newly formed Gulf Island Shipyards LLC, a subsidiary of Gulf Island Fabrication Inc., will address that question during his address on April 12 at the WorkBoat Maintenance & Repair Conference and Expo in New Orleans.

"Chris will provide insight into the opportunities and expanded capabilities in construction and repair that will result from Leevac and Gulf Island joining forces," said David Krapf, editor in chief of WorkBoat magazine.

Vaccari will deliver his talk, "Building Better Shipyards with Collaboration," from 3:30 - 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, at the Expo, which will be held in the Morial Convention Center. The Expo, which is the only commercial marine event dedicated to helping fleet managers, port captains, and operators keep their vessels in top condition, is scheduled from April 12-14.

Registration is now open for the 2016 WorkBoat Maintenance & Repair Conference and Expo at www.workboatmaintenanceandrepair.com.

Krapf said Vaccari brings a unique perspective to what lies ahead for the shipyard sector. As the former president and CEO of Leevac Shipyards, he's familiar with the design, construction and repair of workboats. In late 2015, Gulf Island Fabrication, a leading platform and specialized structure fabricator, and Leevac joined forces to form a new shipyard group -- Gulf Island Shipyard LLC.

"To compete in today's marine fabrication market and serve an increasingly more sophisticated customer, you must have access to the best talent, tools, and facilities in order to meet the demands of the market," Krapf said. "Gulf Island now boasts an expanded marine fabrication and vessel repair and maintenance presence in the Gulf of Mexico region and has significantly diversified their fabrication capabilities."

About Chris Vaccari and Gulf Island Shipyards
Vaccari is the Vice President of newly formed Gulf Island Shipyards LLC, a subsidiary of Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. a NASDAQ listed company. Gulf Island Shipyards was established this January from the business combination of LEEVAC Shipyards and Gulf Island Marine Fabrication. The company owns and operates four shipyards on US Gulf Coast; two in Houma, one in Jennings, and one in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The company now employ over 700 employees; operates 6 dry docks ranging from 1,500 to 12,000 tons; has over 700 liner feet lauchways; and has in excess of 200,000 square feet of covered fabrication facilities.

Prior to this, Vaccari was President/CEO of LEEVAC Shipyards, LLC, a steel fabrication shipyard which designed, built and repaired offshore supply vessels, PSVs, MPSVs, ATBs, ship docking tugs, passenger vessels, casino boats other marine transportation vessels from 2006 through 2015. In 1997 he co-founded Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. NYSE ("HOS") and served as the company's Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director from 1997 to 2004.

He serves on the Advisory Board of the Workboat Strategic Leadership Program.

About the WorkBoat Maintenance & Repair Conference and Expo
Based on the success of the 2015 inaugural WorkBoat Maintenance & Repair Conference and Expo, the 2016 event will again bring together professionals from the commercial vessel maintenance and repair industry.

"The Expo will be the best place to connect with people, products, and receive information and updates needed to keep up and stay ahead of the curve," said Denielle Christensen, show director from Diversified Communications, which produces the award-winning International WorkBoat Show each year in New Orleans.

The 2015 inaugural event was attended by nearly 2,000 top commercial marine leaders. The 2016 event will build on this success and offer a unique combination of a custom-tailored conference program, a highly focused exhibit hall and extensive networking events. The Expo will also host a free Maritime Job Fair and Job Advice Center from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, as well as safety training, product demonstrations, workshops and more than 200 exhibiting companies.

If you are interested in exhibiting at the show, contact Chris Dimmerling, sales director, at [email protected] or (207) 842-5666.

For further information, visit www.workboatmaintenanceandrepair.com.

About WorkBoat
WorkBoat is part of the Diversified Business Communications portfolio of commercial marine events, publications and digital products. The WorkBoat brand has been connecting qualified buyers with leading suppliers for more than 70 years. In print through WorkBoat magazine, online at WorkBoat.com, face-to-face at the International WorkBoat Show and through education with the Professional Series, WorkBoat delivers high quality information to all segments of the marine industry in North America. For more information, visit www.workboat.com.

About Diversified Communications
Diversified Communications, based in Portland, Maine, provides information and market access through face-to-face events, publications and digital products. Diversified serves a number of industries including: seafood, food service, natural and organic, healthcare, commercial marine and business management. Diversified operates divisions in Australia, Hong Kong, India, the UK and Canada. For more information, visit: http://www.divcom.com.

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