The North Kingstown-based SENESCO Marine, previously known as the Southeastern New England Shipbuilding Corp., has been acquired by Reinauer Transportation Companies LLC.
In his online announcement, Reinauer President Craig Reinauer said only that he “is pleased to announce that on September 29th, Reinauer Transportation acquired the Southeastern New England Shipbuilding Corp.”
In a later e-mail, Reinauer described the transaction as “private,” but said his company was “very happy with existing management” at SENESCO Marine, where Frederick G. Frost III is the acting CEO, and had no plans to change either its organization or its leadership.
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He added that the North Kingstown company will continue to operate as SENSECO Marine, the name it formally adopted in October 2003, when it also announced it was streamlining its design and construction procedures to speed delivery.
He also indicated SENESCO was likely to stay in the Quonset Business Park, where it is currently headquartered. Its property there includes a fully paved 25-acre new-construction facility, with more than 215,000 feet of covered floor space, and a 6-acre repair facility with a 1,200-foot-long pier in 35 feet of water. Its 3,500-ton floating dry dock is capable of serving vessels up to 350 feet in length and up to 74 feet in the beam.
“We found this to be an excellent opportunity to continue our double-hull barge building program,” Reinauer said. “We have made a long term commitment to SENESCO and we look forward to a continued presence in Rhode Island.”
Senesco produces deck, hopper and tank barges, including double-hulled models that comply with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990; research vessels, tugboats and ferries; marina floats, causeways, pontoons and piers; port and harbor security barriers; and custom steel structures for marine and land applications.
Its recent projects included a 3,800-ton, 200-foot floating dry dock for Norfolk, Va.-based Lyon Shipyard. Senesco constructed the dock in North Kingstown, in three modules; it was towed to Virginia after its assembly in North Kingstown, where it was christened in June.
Last year, Senesco delivered a 403-foot double-hull oil tank barge to Reinauer Transportation Companies. The contract for the 100,000-barrel barge, announced in early 2004, was Senesco’s largest ever; it spurred a recruiting drive in which the company was aided by the R.I. Economic Development Corporation. The company’s most recent figures indicate Senesco has about 250 employees.
Asked whether he had any plans to increase or decrease staffing in Rhode Island, Reinauer said the companies are “always looking for qualified employees, particularly in the following trades at entry-level positions: plasma table operators, brake press operator and welders and fitters.”
Reinauer Transportation, based in Staten Island, N.Y., and East Boston, began 80 years ago with a single small converted fishing vessel transporting petroleum in New Jersey waters, and has grown to a fleet of more than 75 vessels.
The company also owns the Staten Island-based Reicon Group LLC (previously known as Reinauer Marine Construction), a company specializing in marine and heavy construction, and the East Boston-based Boston Towing & Transportation Companies, which it calls “the oldest, largest, continually operating general towing company in New England, dating back to 1857.”
Additional information on Senesco Marine and Reinauer Transportation Companies is available at www.senescomarine.com and www.reinauer.com, respectively.
