Denver-based Birdon has begun a $37.55-million expansion at its Bayou La Batre shipyard on Shell Belt Road. It is expected to create 136 new jobs in phases over the next three years, bringing Birdon’s total workforce at the facility to more than 200. This expansion follows Birdon’s acquisition of the shipyard on March 1 as part of its efforts to support the U.S. Coast Guard with the next generation of inland buoy tenders known as “Waterways Commerce Cutters (WCC).” Birdon’s Bayou La Batre shipyard will be the construction site for the new WCCs, which are designed for critical operations such as driving piles, building towers and performing substantial marine construction tasks. “We are thrilled to welcome Birdon’s expansion and the many opportunities it will bring to our city,” said Bayou La Batre Mayor Henry Barnes. “This development reaffirms Bayou La Batre’s position as a vital hub for shipbuilding and marine innovation, and we look forward to a bright future together.” In addition to the WCC contract, Birdon will continue the repair and maintenance work underway at the shipyard. Construction is expected to be complete by August 31, 2027.