PANAMA CITY — Though Eastern Shipbuilding was not awarded a massive U.S. Coast Guard contract earlier this year, officials say it still has enough future work to support a large new wave of workers.

According to Joey D'Isernia, president of the company, the Panama City shipbuilder is gearing up to hire almost 300 new employees to fill 70 corporate positions and 226 craft positions.

"We currently have projects that extend for several years and will continue to add new projects to our docket," D'Isernia wrote in an email. "We are pursuing exciting opportunities in the commercial and government spaces that will enable us to continue to diversify and grow.

"Eastern Shipbuilding Group as a small business is putting this community on the map for its excellence in manufacturing and defense."

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Future and ongoing work at Eastern Shipbuilding

Ongoing work at the company includes a contract to build the first four ships in the Coast Guard's Offshore Patrol Cutters Program, a $10.5 billion project to construct 25 ships. OPCs are vessels designed to navigate deep waters for up to 60 days.

D'Isernia noted Eastern's first OPC is about 75% complete, its second is about 50% complete and its third is 25% complete. Work has not yet started on the fourth ship.

In June, Eastern lost the rights to the next 11 ships in the program to Austal USA, an Alabama shipbuilder that is a subsidiary of Australian-based Austal Limited. The more than $3 billion contract, which guarantees years of work, was to build ships five through 15 of the program.

Eastern has appealed the Coast Guard's decision to select Austal USA, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office has until October to make a ruling.

New craftsmen could expect to earn up to $80,000 a year

The majority of Eastern's new positions will help construct the company's already awarded OPCs, D'Isernia said. Others will be hired to support commercial projects at Eastern's Allanton and Port St. Joe Shipyards. This includes a 300-foot ferry that the local shipbuilder was contracted to construct for McAllister Towing and Transportation, a marine transportation company based in New York.

Eastern is looking to fill craft positions with employees skilled in operations, engineering, welding, electrical, pipefitting and mechanics. It also is looking for candidates with administrative and project management experience for its corporate positions.

While there are a variety of positions available, D'Isernia said new craftsmen could expect to earn up to $80,000 a year. The company also offers health, vision and dental insurance, along with retirement plans, paid time off and regular bonuses.

Eastern has about 1,500 employees, making it the largest private employer in Bay and Gulf counties.

"We are hiring as fast as we can find qualified candidates for both hourly and salaried positions," D'Isernia wrote. "These new positions will help us continue to successfully execute the OPC program for the U.S. Coast Guard and deliver shipbuilding excellence to our customers."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City to hire almost 300 new employees