December 7, 2015

Gibbs & Cox, Inc. announced the acquisition of Donald L. Blount and Associates, Inc. (DLBA), a Chesapeake, VA-based firm renowned for its naval architecture and marine engineering services for commercial and government clients world-wide.

“With this key strategic acquisition, Gibbs & Cox continues our strategy aligned to provide high performance marine craft solutions to our military and paramilitary clients,” said Gibbs & Cox Chief Executive and President Rick Biben, “as well as continued expansion of our commercial market areas in engineering, design and construction management of vessels including mega yachts, commercial craft, and production boats.”  

Biben emphasized Gibbs & Cox’s focus on expansion and innovation. “We will continue to identify and pursue other candidate companies to further expand our vision,” he said, adding, “Our agreement with DLBA further solidifies Gibbs & Cox’s industry leadership role in the in the design and development of some of the most prestigious and capable maritime craft afloat today.”

“DLBA’s new association with Gibbs & Cox will significantly enhance DLBA’s depth and breadth in providing timely and quality high performance marine solutions to our world-wide market, while continuing to foster and maintain our important and close relationships with our clients,” said Don Blount, President, DLBA. “This new relationship with Gibbs & Cox will provide our clients with the assurance of new technology application and expert staff reach-back from one of the largest, premier naval architecture and marine engineering firms in the world. We are proud of the many accomplishments of DLBA over the last twenty-seven years and look forward to being an integral part of Gibbs & Cox.”

Founded in 1988, DLBA is a naval architecture and marine engineering firm, specializing in the technical development of high-performance marine craft consulting services related to the design, evaluation, testing, and construction management of motor yachts, custom sport fishing boats, production boats, commercial, military and paramilitary vessels.

Gibbs & Cox is a global leader in maritime engineering and design, with nearly 7,000 vessels designed to our standards since 1929. Gibbs & Cox supports military and commercial clients in the U.S. and internationally with all phases of marine design, construction, and lifecycle management. Independent and privately held, Gibbs & Cox is headquartered in Arlington, VA, with offices in New Orleans, LA; Newport News, VA; New York City, NY; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington, DC.

CONTACT: Merritt Allen, 703-624-7980, merritt.allen@voxoptima.com