Amelia-built Bollinger barge will play role in submarine-building

Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the Ocean Transport Barge Holland to General Dynamics-Electric Boat’s Groton Shipyard.
The Holland will support the construction and maintenance of the United States’ Columbia Class ballistic missile submarines and Virginia Class fast attack submarines, Bollinger said in a press release.
General Dynamics-Electric Boat is the prime contractor on the design and build of the Columbia Class submarine, which will replace the aging Ohio class ballistic missile Submarines and is a top strategic defense priority for the United States.
“Being able to deliver OTB Holland on time and on budget is a testament to the strength, commitment and resilience of the men and women of the Bollinger workforce," said Bollinger President and CEO Ben Bordelon, "especially following the significant damage sustained to our shipyards and communities following Hurricane Ida earlier this year," said Bollinger looks forward to continuing to help meet the expanding needs of the United States’ Navy and supporting efforts to modernize our Nation’s fleet.”
In November 2019, General Dynamics-Electric Boat selected Bollinger to construct the Holland, a 400-by-100 foot ocean transport barge. The concept and contract design was performed by the Bristol Harbor Group in Rhode Island, while Bollinger performed the detail design engineering at Lockport and construction at the Bollinger Marine Fabrication facility in Amelia.
The Columbia Class is now being built at Electric Boat’s Quonset Point, Rhode Island, manufacturing facility. Skilled tradespeople will construct and outfit Columbia modules at Quonset Point. Modules will then be transported by the Holland barge to the company’s final test and assembly facility in Groton. The first Columbia module is expected to arrive in Groton in 2023.