Tidewater Inc. (NYSE: TDW) announced today that one of its new vessels, the M/V PAT TAYLOR, named in honor of the late New Orleans businessman, Patrick F. Taylor, will be christened on Monday, August 21, 2006, at the wharf of the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Mrs. Phyllis M. Taylor, wife of Pat Taylor and current Chairman and CEO of Taylor Energy Company LLC, will christen the new 220′ platform supply vessel which was built by Quality Shipyards, LLC, a subsidiary of Tidewater located in Houma, La.
Dean E. Taylor, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tidewater, commented, “We normally name company vessels after our dedicated company employees and directors, but we felt like the numerous contributions of Pat Taylor to the energy industry and to the community should be recognized in this unique manner. Tidewater is honoring Pat Taylor as a successful businessman and humanitarian, and for all that he did for Louisiana and for those who were worthy of, but without the means to, higher education. Thanks to Pat Taylor’s efforts, countless numbers of American students have the opportunity to attend college based on their ability to learn, not their ability to pay. By naming a vessel in Pat’s honor, we at Tidewater aspire to assure that his spirit will continue to have an influence on our company in the future.”