Birdon America, the U.S. arm of an Australia-based marine engineering and construction firm, plans to expand its Jefferson Parish office to provide engineering design, supply chain, construction, and program management support for a new $1.1 billion U.S. Coast Guard contract.
According to a JEDCO press release, the company plans to invest $3.3 million and create 25 direct new jobs at an average salary of $99,395 to oversee engineering and project management of construction and delivery of 27 state-of-the-art waterways commerce cutter vessels (WCCs). The company will retain 12 existing positions, and Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in 32 indirect jobs, for a total of 69 new and retained jobs in the Southeast Region.
“The Birdon America expansion is a significant retention success for Jefferson Parish,” Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) President and CEO Jerry Bologna said in a news release. “Not only will Birdon’s continued investment in our community create new jobs and partnership opportunities, but also it reinforces our position as a global leader in the engineering and defense industries. We are proud to support Birdon America’s growth in Jefferson Parish.”
“Birdon America’s decision to stay and grow in Louisiana to help build the vessels that protect our ports is a testament to the economic impact of Louisiana’s longstanding support for the U.S. military and national defense,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said in a news release. “A billion-dollar defense contract, high-paying new engineering jobs and the local expansion of a respected global employer demonstrate what is possible for maritime companies doing business in our state.”
In 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard awarded the contract to enhance maintenance and protection of the U.S. Intracoastal and Inland Marine Transportation System. About 630 million tons of cargo is transported through this 12,000-mile system of commercially active waterways, accounting for more than $5.4 trillion of annual commerce and supporting 30.7 million U.S. jobs.
“Louisiana is a major hub for shipbuilding in America,” Robert Scott, president of Birdon America, said in a news release. “It made sense to grow in this area based on the history of the workforce, supply chain availability for shipbuilding and geographic proximity to bodies of water. Birdon’s commitment to helping grow the defense industry base is shown by over 98% of our suppliers are U.S. companies and 70% of the contract will be performed by small businesses, many of them in Louisiana.”
Birdon plans to work with defense technology partners to integrate systems for enhanced performance and efficiency. The 27 vessels will be built by Birdon over the next decade.