In 1949 -- while America was in its zenith as a manufacturing titan, producing the world's finest planes, cars, and ships -- Luther M. Blount embarked on making a lifelong dream to build ships come true. From his first job of constructing a single-fuel oil service vessel 46 years ago, the 78-year-old entrepreneur's Blount Industries has blossomed into the largest private shipbuilding company in Rhode Island, employing almost 200 people.
All together, Luther Blount owns 13 companies that fall under the corporate umbrella of Blount Industries. "I'm proud of the fact that I started this company from nothing," he says of his modest entrepreneurial beginnings. In fact, Blount Industries is a family business, with daughters and sons-in-law active in its diverse operations. The present shipyard includes a shipway, two building sheds, and a lift dock configured for launching and dry docking.,
One of those companies, Blount Marine Corporation, has expanded into an enterprise that has turned out 300 ships for ferry, commuter, and excursion travel. It has also spawned a "mini-cruise" fleet of passenger vessels that sail on waters inaccessible to the traditional seagoing cruise lines.
Blount's vision of what a shipbuilder should be encompasses his perception of the needs of the marine industry. In 1962, the Blount shipyard designed and built the world's first small-stern trawler, which was widely used by the New England fishing industry. Along with fishing vessels, Blount also produces tugboats and small tankers.
Blount's success is based in part on his willingness to take risks, to see possibilities that others can't. In 1966, he created a new size of cruise ship -- larger than a yacht, yet smaller than any of the cruise ships then operating anywhere in the world. It was a risk that paid off. Now Blount's American Canadian Caribbean Line, Inc., offers cruises to the Caribbean, the Intracoastal Waterway to Florida, as well as U.S. harbors, including Norfolk, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. These vessels can serve up to 400 passengers on lunch and dinner cruises, complete with entertainment, while taking in harbor sights. Passengers enjoy scenic cruises up the Hudson River to Lake Champlain and Vermont. Or they can cruise along the Gulf Coast to Florida or up the Saguenay River to Canada. Some 4,000 passengers enjoy American Canadian Caribbean Line's excursions each year.
Luther Blount is realistic in assessing the success of Blount Industries. "What I've got is a strong set of companies that can last through some hard times. We've built longevity and stability," he says.
Last year, Blount Industries posted earnings of $7 million for its shipbuilding company, and $8 million for the Cruise line. Despite the fact that Luther Blount is approaching his eightieth decade, he shows no signs of slowing down. There's still a lot more work to be done -- and a lot more ships to build.
