SE Connecticut News

NORWICH, CT – On May 2, Rep. Courtney (CT-02) announced two federal Maritime Administration (MARAD) Small Shipyard Grants totaling nearly $525,000 have been awarded to the Thames Shipyard & Repair Co. and the Mystic Seaport Museum. These awards are major investments in southeastern Connecticut’s maritime economy and heritage. The federal funding will allow these two enterprises to take on projects which will expand their high-value contributions to Connecticut’s maritime economy.

“The Martine Administration’s Small Shipyard Grants are a powerful vote of confidence in the hard work the Thames Shipyard & Repair Co. and the Mystic Seaport Museum perform every day in southeastern Connecticut,” said Rep. Courtney (CT-02). “These grants are distributed nationwide and on a very competitive basis. The Thames Shipyard & Repair Co. and the Mystic Seaport Museum put together excellent applications to bring these awards to our communities. Congratulations to Thames Shipyard & Repair Co. President John Wronowski and Mystic Seaport Museum President Peter Armstrong on receiving this well-deserved federal funding.”  

In New London, a federal MARAD Grant of $309,853 will be awarded to the Thames Shipyard and Repair Co. The funding will help them increase capacity to service more vessels with surface preparation equipment. Specifically, the shipyard will purchase a dust collector system, a vacuum recovery system, and a compressed air treatment system—all of which will help prolong a ship’s longevity. The shipyard will be able to integrate this new equipment into the services it provides as soon as it is delivered. It is projected that utilization of the equipment will increase the shipyard’s confined space surface preparation capabilities by ten-fold.

“We are very thankful to MARAD and Congressman Courtney for this grant, which will be used to acquire equipment to better prepare vessel surfaces for treatment. The process will create greater efficiencies at our shipyard, and increase productivity leading to our ability to take on more projects," said John P. Wronowski, president of Thames Shipyard & Repair Co., Inc.

In Mystic, a federal MARAD Grant of $214,452 will be awarded to the Mystic Seaport Museum. Notably, the funding will be used to purchase a new sawmill and Articulating boom lift that will allow the shipyard to complete vessel maintenance, rebuilding, restoration, and construction projects more safely and efficiently.

"Mystic Seaport Museums is thrilled to have been selected to receive a 2023 MARAD Small Shipyard award. These federal resources will support the modernization of essential equipment at the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard, including aerial booms and an industrial slab sawmill. The equipment will dramatically improve the Shipyard's efficiency and therefore its ability to bring more vessels and business to the Mystic community to see, tour, and enjoy,” said Peter Armstrong, president of Mystic Seaport Museum. “This funding for small shipyards would not be available without the tremendous leadership and support of Congressman Courtney. Mystic Seaport Museum is grateful for the Congressman's tireless dedication to our shared maritime community and heritage."

The grants come after Rep. Courtney wrote letters of support to MARAD highlighting how the Thames Shipyard & Repair Co., the Mystic Seaport Museum, and southeastern Connecticut would benefit from this funding opportunity.

To learn more about U.S. Department of Transpiration’s Maritime Administration Small Shipyard Grants, click here.

To read Rep. Courtney’s letter in support of Thames Shipyard & Repair Co., click here.

To read Rep. Courtney’s letter in support of Mystic Seaport Museum, click here.

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Eastern ConnecticutFederal Resources to Eastern Connecticut 

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