Boat builder sues over change orders to $28M vessel

GRETNA – An offshore supply company is being sued by a shipbuilder who claims it was not paid the entire amount for a ship after change orders nearly doubled its originally contracted price.

Semco LLC filed suit against the Grand Ltd. in the 24th Judicial District Court on Oct. 28.

Semco asserts it entered into a contract to provide the construction of a lift boat for a cost of $15,934,000. The plaintiff alleges that due to added demands and change orders requested by the defendant that went beyond the original contract and required significant additional construction to add the ability to hold a larger crane, the addition of an aluminum wheelhouse and a special generator the construction cost greatly increased.

Semco alleges that due to the change orders its man hours increased from an anticipated 150,000 to 320,000 by the end of the project and the total price including all of the changes will have increased to more than $28 million.

The defendant is accused of total cost claim, modified cost claim and contract recission.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for contract reformation, cause of action for change items, recognition of liens and the vessel be seized and sold to the highest bidder to satisfy the debt.

Semco is represented by S. Gene Fendler of New Orleans-based Liskow & Lewis.

The case has been assigned to Division B Judge Cornelius E. Regan.

Case no. 732-374.