Wikipedia

Vigor Marine Group

(Redirected from Cascade General)

Vigor Marine Group, formerly Vigor Industrial, is an American shipbuilding, ship repair, and marine service company based in Portland, Oregon. It consists of several subsidiary companies for a combined total of five shipyards with eight drydocks, more than 16,000 feet of pier space, and over 2,000 employees as of 2025.[2]

Vigor Marine Group
Company typeLLC
Industry
Founded2000
FounderFrank Foti
HeadquartersPortland, Oregon, U.S.
Area served
North America
Revenue$400 million to $500 million (2013)[1]
Number of employees
2,500[2] (2025)
ParentTitan Acquisition Holdings
Websitewww.vigormarine.com

History

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Early history

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In 1942, what is now Vigor's Swan Island facility in Portland began operations as the Swan Island Shipyard of the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company.[3] After the end of the war, the Swan Island shipyard was purchased by the Port of Portland, which operated it as a repair yard.[2] In 1995, businessman Frank Foti bought the ship repair company Cascade General on the verge of bankruptcy from its previous owners, operating on leased space from the Port of Portland shipyard.[4] In 1998, Foti also purchased Washington Marine Repair in Port Angeles, Washington.[5]

With funding from the then-publicly traded Cammell Laird PLC in the UK, Transamerica Capital and Heller Capital, Cascade General purchased the Swan Island facility from the port in 2000 and the name Vigor Industrial was established.[2][6]

In 2006, Vigor established the barge-building company U.S. Barge as a joint venture with Oregon Iron Works.[7] The partnership was eventually renamed US Fab[8] before becoming Vigor Fab in 2013.[9]

Expansion and acquisitions

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The MV Chimacum under construction at Vigor's Seattle shipyard in 2016
 
Vigor purchased Kvichak Marine Industries in 2015.

In 2010, Vigor purchased Marine Industries Northwest in Tacoma, Washington.[10][11]

In 2011, Vigor purchased Todd Pacific Shipyards for $130 million, acquiring its shipyards in Seattle, Bremerton, and Everett.[12] Todd Pacific became a wholly owned subsidiary of Vigor and began operating as Vigor Shipyards after the acquisition.[13]

In 2012, Vigor acquired Alaska Ship & Drydock in Ketchikan, Alaska.[2] Vigor renamed the subsidiary Vigor Alaska in 2013.[9]

In May 2014, the company announced that it was merging with Oregon Iron Works, another manufacturer based in the Portland area.[14][1][15] Although both companies referred to it as a "merger", the deal made Oregon Iron Works a division of Vigor,[14] a wholly owned subsidiary.[15]

In March 2015, Vigor Industrial acquired Seattle-based aluminum workboat manufacturer Kvichak Marine Industries.[16] Vigor designated the new subsidiary as Vigor Ballard.[17]

Vigor announced it would be ending operations at its Everett shipyard in 2017.[18]

Vigor announced in late 2017 that it had won a $1 billion contract to produce U.S. Army landing craft, designated the Maneuver Support Vessel (Light). The contract was the largest in the company's history.[19]

In 2018, Vigor's Swan Island facility was cited for multiple safety violations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.[20][21][22]

In early 2019, Vigor purchased the facilities of Christensen Yachts in Vancouver, Washington, and concurrently announced that it would be closing its facility in Ballard (at the site of the former Kvichak Marine Industries). Employees at the Ballard facility were offered to transfer to Vancouver, where Vigor was preparing to begin production of landing craft for the U.S. Army.[23][24]

Recapitalization and mergers

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In July 2019, The Carlyle Group and Stellex Capital Management agreed to acquire and merge Vigor Industrial with MHI Holdings LLC,[25][26] forming a parent company Titan Acquisition Holdings.[27] Titan Acquisition Holdings was purchased by private equity firm Lone Star Funds in 2023.[28]

Vigor announced in 2021 that it would be shutting down its operations in Port Angeles.[29]

In March 2025, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority announced that it would not be extending its agreement with Vigor to operate the Ketchikan Shipyard after the agreement expires in November 2025. The state-owned shipyard was formerly operated by the Alaska Ship & Drydock company, which Vigor purchased in 2012.[30][31][32]

In June 2025, Vigor Industrial consolidated with four other companies under the ownership of Titan Acquisition Holdings—Continental Maritime of San Diego, MHI Ship Repair and Services, Seaward Marine Services, and Accurate Marine Environmental—to form the Vigor Marine Group.[33][34][35]

Facilities and corporate structure

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As of 2025, Vigor Marine Group is structured into three main divisions: Maintenance & Modernization, which handles ship repairs and maintenance; Marine Services, which provides services such as cleaning and waste water treatment; and Marine Fabrication, which handles production of new vessels.[36]

Shipyards

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Location Size Drydocks Piers Cranes Ref.
Seattle, Washington 27 acres (11 ha) 3 4 12 [37]
Portland, Oregon 60 acres (24 ha) 3 12 13 [38]
San Diego, California 195,000 square feet (18,100 m2) shop/fabrication space 0 2 4 [39]
Norfolk, Virginia 169,000 square feet (15,700 m2) shop/fabrication space 0 1 5 [40]

Other facilities

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Location Size Ref.
Vancouver, Washington 7 acres (2.8 ha) [41]
Portsmouth, Virginia 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) [42]

Vessels constructed

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The USAV SSG Elroy F. Wells was the first MSV(L) landing craft produced by Vigor.[43]
 
The crane barge Left Coast Lifter was used in the eastern span replacement of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge.[44]

Vigor has constructed a wide variety of vessels, including barges, tugboats, fishing vessels, pilot boats, crew boats, ferries, and military vessels.[45] Some of the notable vessels constructed by Vigor and its subsidiaries are provided below.

Military vessels

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Vigor has constructed several types of vessels for the U.S. military, including the Combatant Craft Medium, Combatant Craft Heavy, and Maneuver Support Vessel (Light).[46] Individually notable ships include:

Ferries

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The following ferries were completed at the Todd Pacific shipyard in Seattle after its acquisition by Vigor:[48]

The following ferry was completed at the Alaska Ship and Drydock shipyard in Ketchikan after its acquisition by Vigor:[49]

Barges

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Built by U.S. Barge:[50]

References

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  1. ^ a b Martinez, Amy (May 21, 2014). "Shipbuilders Vigor and Oregon Iron Works agree to merge". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Our Story". Vigor Marine Group. Archived from the original on July 22, 2025. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  3. ^ "Kaiser Swan Island". ShipbuildingHistory.com. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  4. ^ "Cascade General, Inc. History". FundingUniverse. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  5. ^ "Vigor Industrial: A Rising Star in Shipbuilding in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska" (Press release). Vigor Industrial. July 26, 2012. Archived from the original on July 2, 2025.
  6. ^ T. Alan Sprott. "Vigor Industrial LLC, Portland Shipyard" (PDF). National Shipbuilding Research Program. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2014.
  7. ^ Tyler Graf (October 18, 2007). "Barge launch reinvigorates shipyard". Daily Journal of Commerce. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  8. ^ Jack O'Connell (August 26, 2013). "Building Success". Maritime Executive. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Stevens, Suzanne (October 8, 2013). "For Vigor Industrial, it's all in the name". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  10. ^ "Marine Industries Northwest". ShipbuildingHistory.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  11. ^ "Vigor Marine Purchases Marine Industries Northwest". MarineLink. August 13, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  12. ^ "Vigor completes $130M purchase of Todd Shipyards". Puget Sound Business Journal. February 15, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  13. ^ "Vigor Industrial completes acquisition of Todd Shipyards". MarineLog. February 16, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Francis, Mike (May 21, 2014). "Vigor Marine brings Oregon Iron Works under its roof in merger". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  15. ^ a b Giegerich, Andy (May 21, 2014). "Vigor Industrial and Oregon Iron Works to merge". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  16. ^ Coral Garnick (March 3, 2015). "Vigor Industrial expands shipyard work with Kvichak deal". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  17. ^ Kirk Moore (November 16, 2017). "Little yard, big aluminum boats". WorkBoat. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  18. ^ Dan Catchpole (March 7, 2017). "Vigor Industrial to end lease early, close Everett shipyard". The Everett Herald. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  19. ^ Allan Brettman (February 1, 2019). "Shipbuilder Vigor picks Vancouver for Army landing craft manufacturing". The Columbian. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  20. ^ "OSHA cites shipbuilder for 16 workplace hazards". The Columbian. August 1, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  21. ^ "Shipbuilder's Swan Island operation cited for 16 workplace hazards". OregonLive. The Associated Press. August 1, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  22. ^ "Former shipbuilding project manager sentenced to more than 4 years in prison for $1.5 million false invoice scheme" (Press release). United States Department of Justice. December 19, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  23. ^ "Vigor will put new 400-employee shipyard in Vancouver, Washington, and close Ballard site". Seattle Times. February 1, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  24. ^ Meghan Walker (February 5, 2019). "Aluminum workboat builders Vigor to close Frelard plant". MyBallard.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  25. ^ Iris Dorbian (July 25, 2019). "Carlyle and Stellex to buy and merge Vigor Industrial and MHI Holdings". PE Hub Network. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  26. ^ Mike Rogoway. "Portland shipbuilder Vigor Industrial sells to D.C. investment firm". OregonLive. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  27. ^ "Titan Acquisition Holdings". The Carlyle Group. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  28. ^ Sarah Wolf (February 15, 2023). "Shipbuilder Vigor Industrial sold to private equity firm". The Columbian. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  29. ^ Paul Gottlieb (May 28, 2021). "Topside repair a priority for Port of Port Angeles". Peninsula Daily News. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  30. ^ Eric Stone (March 5, 2025). "AIDEA plans to end agreement with Vigor for state-owned Ketchikan Shipyard". KRBD. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  31. ^ "State wants a new operator to take over Ketchikan shipyard". Wrangell Sentinel. March 18, 2025. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  32. ^ Scott Bowlen (July 13, 2025). "Layoffs begin for Ketchikan shipyard workers". Ketchikan Daily News. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  33. ^ Pete Danko (June 20, 2025). "Vigor name extended to 2,600-worker marine and industrial services group". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  34. ^ "Five US shipbuilders and repairers to form marine service group". Baird Maritime. June 19, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  35. ^ Anne Kalosh (June 20, 2025). "Five US companies unify under Vigor Marine Group". Seatrade Cruise News. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  36. ^ "Vigor Marine Group Launched as Unified Maritime Leader" (Press release). Vigor Marine Group. June 19, 2025. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  37. ^ "Seattle, WA Shipyard". Vigor Marine Group. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  38. ^ "Portland, OR Shipyard". Vigor Marine Group. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  39. ^ "San Diego, CA Shipyard". Vigor Marine Group. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  40. ^ "Norfolk, VA Shipyard". Vigor Marine Group. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  41. ^ "Vancouver, WA Facility". Vigor Marine Group. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  42. ^ "Portsmouth, VA Facility". Vigor Marine Group. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  43. ^ a b "Vigor starts construction of US Army's next generation landing craft". NavalToday.com. September 18, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  44. ^ Lisa Vorderbrueggen (August 12, 2016). "Left Coast Lifter Set to Leave Bay Area after Bay Bridge work". The Mercury News. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  45. ^ "Marine Fabrication". Vigor Marine Group. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  46. ^ "Maritime Security Vessel Projects". Vigor Marine Group. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  47. ^ "Autonomous Vessels". Vigor Marine Group. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  48. ^ "Vigor Seattle". ShipbuildingHistory.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  49. ^ "Vigor Alaska". ShipbuildingHistory.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  50. ^ "Vigor Portland". ShipbuildingHistory.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
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