Southwest Shipyard

What Southwest Shipyard does

Southwest Shipyard, L.P. is a privately held, third-generation family-owned shipbuilding and marine repair operator headquartered in Channelview, Texas. Founded in 1954 by Henry Hilliard as a barge fleeting facility serving the Houston Ship Channel, the company now operates four shipyard facilities on the Texas Gulf Coast — Channelview, Brady Island, Brady Island West, and Galveston — collectively equipped with 12 floating dry docks, marine railways supporting 22-vessel out-of-water repair capacity, 20 dockside slots, enclosed blast and paint facilities, gas freeing and cleaning docks for up to 10 barges, steaming and flaring capabilities with USCG-certified flares, a 30+ year onsite industrial wastewater treatment plant, and module fabrication capacity up to 500 tons at Galveston.

The company generates revenue through six service lines: shipbuilding and new construction (barges, push boats, dredges, ferries, OSVs and tugs), vessel repair and conversion across inland and offshore markets, gas freeing and cleaning, steaming and flaring, surface preparation and painting, and third-party industrial wastewater treatment. Project-based contracts and per-vessel service fees are the primary revenue mechanics; pricing is custom-quoted and not publicly disclosed.

The customer base spans commercial marine operators (towboat companies, barge operators, OSV operators, dredging contractors such as Orion Marine Group, Mike Hooks LLC, and SPI/Mobile Pulley Works) and government agencies (Harris County for ferry maintenance, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Coast Guard). Distribution is entirely direct sales, relationship-driven, and concentrated on the Texas Gulf Coast. The company markets under the motto "Faster, Safer, Better" and has earned repeated Shipbuilders Council of America safety awards in 2019, 2022, and 2024, along with a 2023 MARAD Small Shipyard Grant — the largest individual award of that program in 2023. Henry "Hank" Hilliard serves as Chairman of the Board and Scott Theriot as President & CEO.

Name

Southwest Shipyard

Legal name

Southwest Shipyard, L.P.

Website

https://swslp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Southwest Shipyard is a family-owned Texas Gulf Coast shipbuilder and marine repair operator, founded 1954, running four facilities with 12 dry docks serving commercial and government marine customers across new construction, vessel repair, gas freeing, steaming, painting, and wastewater treatment services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shipbuilding and Marine Repair Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Ship Repair & Drydocking (TLAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landing Craft & Amphibious Workboats (LCM/LCT-style, Beaching Craft) (IMAJADAK), Hull, Structure & Steelwork Repair (TLAKAKAE), Underwater Hull Inspection, Cleaning & Propeller Services (TLAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• Shipbuilding services
• Vessel repair
• Marine shipyard
• Barge construction
• Marine cleaning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Channelview

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Shipbuilding and New Construction: New construction of barges, boats, OSVs, ferries, and tugs. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts for vessel construction, including double skin inland tank barges (10K, 17K, 23K, 30K barrel capacities), ocean tank barges, LPG barges, push boats, dredges, deck barges, and idler barges.
2. Vessel Repair and Conversion: Major, routine, and conversion repair services for inland and offshore boats and barges, pressure barges, ferries, OSVs, and tugs. Revenue generated through service contracts for dry-docking, repairs, and conversions.
3. Gas Freeing and Cleaning Services: Barge cleaning and gas freeing services including change-of-cargo cleanings. Round-the-clock operations for quick turnaround. Services cover poisons, heavy oils, chlorinated solvents. Revenue from per-vessel service fees.
4. Steaming and Flaring Services: Steaming services for various cargoes (Lube Oils, #6 Bunker Oil, Paraxylene, Vacuum Gas Oil, etc.) and flaring services for vapor cargoes (Propylene, Butadiene, Propane, Butane, etc.). Revenue from service fees based on barge capacity and cargo type.
5. Surface Preparation and Painting: Abrasive blasting and coating applications including cargo tank linings (zinc, epoxy, high temperature cured/baked). Services for void compartments, ballast tanks, and potable water tanks. Revenue from project-based painting contracts.
6. Wastewater Treatment Services: Industrial wastewater treatment for third-party providers including subcategory B & C biodegradable wastewater, wash water, domestic and utility wastewater, barge ballast water, and contaminated storm water. Revenue from treatment service fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Southwest Shipyard operates four shipyard facilities along the Texas Gulf Coast providing shipbuilding, vessel repair and conversion, gas freeing and cleaning, steaming and flaring, surface preparation and painting, and wastewater treatment services to commercial and government marine industry customers. The company constructs a range of vessels including inland and ocean tank barges, LPG barges, push boats, cutter suction dredges, deck/spud barges, and passenger/vehicle ferries, supported by 12 floating dry docks and multiple marine railways with deep-water access to the Gulf of Mexico.

Product overview

Southwest Shipyard is a shipbuilding and repair company offering a comprehensive suite of maritime services across four facilities in the Texas Gulf Coast. The company's service portfolio includes six core offerings: gas freeing and cleaning services, steaming and flaring services, vessel repair and conversion, surface preparation and painting, wastewater treatment, and new construction services. In addition to services, the company manufactures a diverse range of marine vessels including double skin inland tank barges (in various sizes from 10,000 to 30,000 BBL capacity), ocean tank barges, stainless steel tank barges, LPG inland tank barges, inland push boats (1,500-2,400 HP), 24-inch cutter suction dredges, idler barges, deck/spud barges, and vehicle/passenger ferries. The product line spans multiple vessel types designed for inland waterway, coastal, and offshore operations serving both commercial and government marine industry customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gas Freeing and Cleaning Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% reduction in hazardous waste generation from barge cleaning activities over 4 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• SPI/Mobile Pulley Works, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 August 2021SPI/Mobile Pulley Works engineered and manufactured the hydraulic driver spud track for the Jeremiah H. Idler Barge constructed at Southwest Shipyard. Collaborative partnership for dredge vessel component design and manufacturing.
• Mike Hooks, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 August 2021Mike Hooks, LLC contracted Southwest Shipyard for construction of the Jeremiah H. Idler Barge and Lorraine Hooks 27-inch Cutter Suction Dredge. Partnership represents diversification into dredging industry vessels while maintaining core barge business.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bollinger Shipyards: Lockport, Louisiana-based shipbuilder and ship repair operator serving commercial and government marine markets with multiple Gulf Coast facilities. Highly comparable to Southwest in vessel types built (barges, OSVs, tugs, cutters) and customer base, including extensive USCG and Navy work.
• Conrad Shipyard Industries: Louisiana-based shipbuilder and repair yard with yards in Amelia and Orange, Texas. Closely comparable to Southwest in building inland barges, towboats, and government vessels, and a direct competitor for Texas/Louisiana Gulf Coast contracts.
• Leevac Industries: Jennings, Louisiana-based shipbuilder focused on offshore supply vessels, tugboats, and specialty vessels for the Gulf Coast. Direct peer in OSV and tug construction with overlapping customer base and similar regulatory exposure to Jones Act and offshore markets.
• Edison Chouest Offshore: Privately held Cut Off, Louisiana-based operator of multiple Gulf Coast shipyards building and maintaining a large fleet of OSVs, crew boats, and specialty vessels. Closely comparable to Southwest in scale, vertical integration, and private family ownership model.
• VT Halter Marine: Pascagoula, Mississippi-based shipbuilder (a ST Engineering company) building OSVs, patrol boats, and government vessels. Direct peer in Gulf Coast shipbuilding for commercial and government customers with comparable vessel portfolio and dry-dock operations.

Broad incumbents

• Huntington Ingalls Industries: Largest US military shipbuilder (NYSE: HII) with Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula and Newport News. Overlaps with Southwest in Gulf Coast operations and government vessel work but at vastly larger scale focused on Navy combatants, not commercial inland barges.
• General Dynamics NASSCO: San Diego-based shipbuilder (General Dynamics subsidiary) constructing auxiliary and support ships for the US Navy and commercial tankers. Comparable as a major US shipbuilder serving government customers, but geographically distant from Southwest's Gulf Coast footprint.
• Fincantieri Marine Group: US subsidiary of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, operating yards in Wisconsin, Florida, and Maryland. Comparable as a broader shipbuilding incumbent in the US market with government and commercial vessel capabilities overlapping with Southwest's service portfolio.
• Trinity Industries: Dallas, Texas-based manufacturer (NYSE: TRN) with a marine products segment that builds inland barges, tank barges, and structural steel for marine use. Adjacent competitor in inland barge new construction with overlapping Gulf Coast customer base but broader rail and highway products portfolio.

Regional players

• Tampa Ship LLC: Tampa, Florida-based ship repair and shipbuilding facility with floating dry docks serving commercial and government customers. Comparable in vessel repair and conversion services to Southwest, but operating on the Florida Gulf Coast rather than Texas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SouthwestShipyardLP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swslp.com

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southwest Shipyard