Shipyards start work on barges for new Horseshoe casino

Try out No Download - Black Jack at Winward Casino

Advanced Forum Search -- Advanced Casino Search

Message was posted: 06:59 Jun 7th, 2006

User: LadyHoldem
Rank: WCD Admin
Casino Gold: 7305CG
Contributor rating: 19375
Status: Offline

BY SUSAN ERLER
serler@nwitimes.com
219.462.5151
Casino News Source: http://www.thetimesonline.com

Two 1,700-ton barges under construction at a Louisiana shipyard will make their way to Hammond in early winter to become part of the Horseshoe casino expansion project.

Houston-based marine construction company J. Ray McDermott started work in early May on the steel barges, each measuring 276 feet by 102 feet.

By next summer they will be joined with another four barges to form the base of the massive new floating vessel being built by Horseshoe owner Harrah's Entertainment Inc. in a $485 million project.

Building floating platforms is nothing new to the 83-year-old J. Ray McDermott, which constructs off-shore structures for the oil and gas industry worldwide.

But the barges bound for Hammond are a first for the company, whose founders are not related to Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., spokesman Ray Scippa said.

"It's quite unusual for us to be building casino barges," Scippa said. "This was a unique, interesting thing for us that we'd never done."

Another two barges are under construction at Corn Island Shipyard in Lamar in southern Indiana, Horseshoe Casino general manager Rick Mazer said. R&R Marine in Port Arthur, Texas, is building the final two.

"All three of the ship builders are on schedule," Mazer said.

The work was split between three builders to get the project in on time, Mazer said.

The first two barges are expected to arrive sometime in January at the Port of Indiana at Burns Harbor, where they'll be fitted with vertical support beams before being moved to the Hammond marina, Mazer said.

The six barges combined will measure 564 feet long, 320 feet wide and 22 feet deep.

When all six sections are in place, interior work will get underway, Mazer said.

The casino is expected to open in summer 2008 with a 170,000-square-foot gambling floor and double the number of slot machines and table games on the existing Horseshoe vessel.

An entertainment center will occupy the floating gambling hall's second level.

Site links: Home; Search; Casino news; Hotel casinos; Land Based Casinos; Online casinos; Poker Tournaments; Free casino games; Download our free toolbar

Explore casinos: North America; Central America; South America; Caribbean; Australasia; Casino Cruise Ships

Central Asia; Far East Asia; West Europe; East Europe; Africa; Middle East
Casino news: Keep up to date on worldwide gaming news in casino news.

Casino jobs: Looking for employment in the casino industry? Be sure to visit the casino jobs bulletin board.
Gambling forums: Check out the gambling forums and connect with other gambling enthusiasts worldwide.

Lottery results: Have you struck it rich? Find out with our worldwide lottery results.

Our global lottery ticket agent now allows you to purchase your lottery tickets online.

Disclaimer: It is your responsibility to check with your local authorities and to know your local laws before gambling online. World Casino Directory cannot be held responsible for your activities once leaving our website.

World Casino Directory | Weltweites Casino-Verzeichnis | Annuaire de casino Du Monde | Directorio Mundial de Casinos | Indice del casino | Diretório Mundial de Cassinos
Website FAQ | Privacy policy | Advertising rates | Sitemap

The SAFE Ports Act passed by the U.S. congress is affecting certain payment processors, and as a result, online casinos or
poker rooms listed with a no USA banner are not currently accepting U.S. players for real money deposits.
U.S. online gambling ban info

©Copyright 2002-2008 World Casino Directory. All rights reserved.

Forums by Location