Westport sold

Westport Shipyard Inc has been sold to Louisiana based ownership group, that includes members of the Chouest family, and renamed Westport LLC, a division of Edison Chouest LLC. According to newspaper reports, the deal between the new owners and the yard was signed on Friday 6 June. A statement from the company indicates that it is business as usual and the yard will continue to build yachts in Port Angeles, Westport and Hoquiam.

The new owners have major holdings in their primary business in the oil and gas marine transportation industry, including Edison Chouest Offshore, and also own Florida based American Custom Yachts. Principal Gary Chouest has himself been a customer of Westport.

"We are pleased to join the Westport family, and look forward to pursuing the synergies that exist between the Chouest companies and Westport," said Chouest in the statement that announced the sale. "We will continue to pursue the employment of skilled local workers, and will remain an active participant in the communities Westport serves."



Westport executives have also commented: “Gary [Chouest] has always been passionate about our industry, and we are honored to count him as a customer and now our majority owner as well,” said Daryl Wakefield, Westport's president. The statement confirmed that Wakefield will remain in his role, along with General Manager Dave Hagiwara, and the rest of Westport’s management team and employees. “The Westport family is excited about joining forces with the Chouest family, but we also must acknowledge the wonderful contributions of  Mr. John Orin Edson, our majority shareholder since 1997,” concluded Wakefield

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Westport Shipyard

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