Ocean Group In. (Quebec) has acquired The Verreault shipyard.
The Méchins shipyard, founded in 1956 by Borromée Verreault and then managed by his daughter Denise Verreault for around thirty years, transferred into the hands of Groupe Océan, which specializes in dredging and shipbuilding.
The Quebec company, whose head office is in Quebec City, is adding a second ship repair and transformation site to its varied maritime service offering.
The company intends to consolidate the Méchins shipyard and ensures that it will continue to grow.
Over the years, due to health problems, Denise Verreault had delegated the management of her business to the President and Chief Operating Officer, Richard Beaupré. The latter believes that the transaction was the best way to envision the future and the sustainability of the company.
With this acquisition, Ocean Group adds to its expertise a large-scale dry dock that will allow it to develop projects within the framework of the Canadian government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.
In addition to construction and dredging, Groupe Océan offers port towage, maritime transport and ship repair services.
The 100 or so workers from Les Méchins will join the 1,000 employees of Groupe Océans in facilities located in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and the Caribbean.
Groupe Océans is a private company that includes the Caisse de depot et placement du Québec and the Solidarity FundFTQamong its shareholders.
The amount of the transaction was not disclosed.
Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours rocks Sault docks during color tour
A few short months after Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours announced Scott LaBonte’s succession to general manager, its boats are rocking Sault Ste. Marie docks.
AM GOLD Duo of The American Band is what you may have heard if walking along the St. Marys River on Thursday evening. Frank Gillotte and Jim Belleau played country and easy rock for a boat full of sightseers, as Captain Larry Spencer set off on a two-hour color tour.
“This is just something really nice for people to do, so they can see the fall colors,” said Gillotte, excited to be part of the changes to come.
Miranda Sharp and Patrick Meister of Portland, MI came to the Sault looking to get away. “This is our second day here,” said Sharp. “We wanted to go on a Soo Locks tour, but thought this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is beautiful weather to go out on the water.” Others, like Ron and Theda Williams of Charlevoix just wanted to cut loose and have a “wild, crazy time.”
Present general manager Rich Brawley certainly enjoyed himself, laughing and socializing with passengers. “Younger people came up with this idea,” he said. “It’s something we may continue doing.” Wife Carol Brawley nodded in agreement, pleased to see the boat so full of people having a good time. “We want to start doing more interesting things to engage the community,” she said. “Our area is so gorgeous and so beautiful. We love to let people explore from the water. Several young people on our board of directors have been coming up with more ways to engage residents. We are excited about the future.”
LaBonte’s long-term goal is to get locals reacquainted with the water, land, and industry that sets Sault Ste. Marie apart.
“I think people can sometimes take our beautiful area for granted, and forget how much is really here,” said LaBonte.
Brawley, who just turned 76-years-old, was more than ready to hand LaBonte the wheel. “I just want a little more time in Florida and to hunt and travel,” Brawley said. “It’s been a wonderful career that I have thoroughly enjoyed.”
After 42 years, not just anyone could take over. “We were delighted to find Scott,” Mrs. Brawley added. “He is everything we were looking for.”
On the same same day as the tour, news broke that LaBonte was appointed to the Michigan State Waterways Commission by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. LaBonte will represent people residing north of Townline 16 in the Upper Peninsula for a term that will run from Sept. 29, 2022 to Sept. 18, 2025. LaBonte will succeed Patrick Egan, whose term expired on Sept. 18.
Be sure to check the Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours website for scheduling and other information. Its physical address is 515 East Portage Avenue, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Its phone number is 906-632-2512.
Soo Leader
Great Lakes freighter built in Door County advances to next round of ‘Coolest Things’ contest
MADISON, WI – The 639-foot-long Great Lakes freighter built in Door County is still in the running for the 2022 “Coolest Things Made in Wisconsin” contest.
The M/V Mark W. Barker, built by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, advanced to the Round of 8 in the annual Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce-sponsored contest by outpolling Aerozen Advanced Performance Coating System, an exterior coating made by Hentzen Coatings of Milwaukee that, among other uses, helps beautify and protect the exterior of the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels Super Hornet fighter aircraft.
The contest opened with 121 nominated products that were narrowed to a top 16 for the first round of what WMC calls “Manufacturing Madness,” which pits each product head-to-head against another in a bracket format. Online public voting determined the winners of each matchup, which were announced Oct. 5.
Green Bay Press Gazette
