Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

                                      among

                 SWIFT GROUP, LLC, SWIFTSHIPS SHIPBUILDERS, LLC,
                 SWIFTSHIPS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, LAND & INDUSTRIAL
                        ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC, SWIFTSHIPS
                   FREEPORT, INC. AND CHAMPION SHIPYARDS, INC.
                                  as Borrowers

                                       and

                             CONRAD SHIPYARD, L.L.C.
                                    as Lender

                                   ----------

                                Up to $1,000,000

                                   ----------

                                   ----------

                                 August 12, 2002

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS .....................................................    1
 Section 1.1 Defined Terms ................................................    1
 Section 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions ................................    5
ARTICLE II AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES ...............................    6
 Section 2.1 The Loan .....................................................    6
 Section 2.2 The Note .....................................................    6
 Section 2.3 Interest .....................................................    6
 Section 2.4 Interest After Default .......................................    7
 Section 2.5 Procedure for Borrowing ......................................    7
 Section 2.6 Funds for Loans ..............................................    7
 Section 2.7 Repayment of the Loan ........................................    7
 Section 2.8 Prepayment ...................................................    7
 Section 2.9 Joint, Several and Solidarily Obligations ....................    8
ARTICLE III CONDITIONS PRECEDENT ..........................................    8
 Section 3.1 Conditions Precedent to the Initial Advance ..................    8
 Section 3.2 Conditions Precedent to Each Subsequent Advance ..............    9
ARTICLE IV SECURITY .......................................................    9
 Section 4.1 Security of the Borrowers ....................................    9
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ..................................    9
 Section 5.1 Liabilities and Litigation ...................................    9
 Section 5.2 Organization and Power; Good Standing ........................   10
 Section 5.3 Authorization; Consent .......................................   10
 Section 5.4 Binding Obligations ..........................................   10
 Section 5.5 Title and Liens ..............................................   10
 Section 5.6 Litigation ...................................................   10
 Section 5.7 Compliance with Laws .........................................   10
 Section 5.8 Statements ...................................................   11
 Section 5.9 Environmental Compliance .....................................   11
ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS ..........................................   12
 Section 6.1 Punctual Payment .............................................   12
 Section 6.2 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions .......   12
 Section 6.3 Notices ......................................................   12
 Section 6.4 Maintenance of Property; Insurance ...........................   13
 Section 6.5 Taxes ........................................................   13
 Section 6.6 Environmental Laws ...........................................   13
 Section 6.7 Delivery; Further Assurances .................................   14
 Section 6.8 Use of Proceeds ..............................................   14
ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS ............................................   14
 Section 7.1 Limitation on Liens ..........................................   14
 Section 7.2 Prohibition of Fundamental Changes ...........................   15
 Section 7.3 Limitation on Sale of Assets .................................   15
 Section 7.4 Limitation on Indebtedness ...................................   15
 Section 7.5 Limitation on Negative Pledges ...............................   15
 Section 7.6 Letter of Intent .............................................   15

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ARTICLE VIII DEFAULT ......................................................   15
 Section 8.1 Events of Default ............................................   15
 Section 8.2 Remedies .....................................................   17
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS ..................................................   18
 Section 9.1 Amendments and Waivers .......................................   18
 Section 9.2 Notices ......................................................   18
 Section 9.3 Expenses .....................................................   18
 Section 9.4 Indemnification ..............................................   19
 Section 9.5 Survival of Covenants, Etc ...................................   19
 Section 9.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments .......   19
 Section 9.7 Counterparts .................................................   19
 Section 9.8 Severability .................................................   20
 Section 9.9 Integration ..................................................   20
 Section 9.10 Governing Law ...............................................   20
 Section 9.11 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers .........................   20
 Section 9.12 Acknowledgments .............................................   21
 Section 9.13 Waivers of Jury Trial .......................................   21

EXHIBITS

Exhibit A - Form of Promissory Note

SCHEDULES

Schedule 5.1 - Liabilities and Litigation

Schedule 7.1(d) - Existing Liens

Schedule 7.4 - Existing Indebtedness

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                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

         THIS LOAN AGREEMENT is entered into as of August 12, 2002 by and among
Swift Group, LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company, Swiftships
Shipbuilders, LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company, Swiftships
Technologies, LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company, Land & Industrial
Asset Management, LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company, Swiftships
Freeport, Inc., a Louisiana corporation, and Champion Shipyards, Inc., a
Mississippi corporation (collectively, the "Borrowers", and individually, each a
"Borrower"), and Conrad Shipyard, L.L.C., a Louisiana limited liability company
(the "Lender").

                                    RECITALS

         A. The Borrowers desire to obtain a secured loan up to the aggregate
principal amount of One Million and No/100 Dollars ($1,000,000.00), the proceeds
of which term loan will be used as described herein.

         B. The Lender is willing to make the requested loan  available to the
Borrowers,  upon the conditions and subject to the terms hereof.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Borrowers and the Lender
hereby agree as follows:

                             ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

            Section 1.1  Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:

         "Advance Period" The period from the Closing Date to the date that is
two (2) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.

         "Affiliate" As to any Person, any other Person which, directly or
indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such Person. For purposes of this definition, "control" of a Person means the
power, directly or indirectly, to direct or in effect cause the direction of the
management and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise.

         "Agreement" This Loan Agreement, as amended or supplemented from time
to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

         "Available Loan" An amount equal to (a) (i) $500,000, if the Execution
Date has not occurred, or (ii) $1,000,000, if the Execution Date has occurred,
less (b) the aggregate amount of the Loan advanced by the Lender to the
Borrowers hereunder, regardless of whether any advances have been repaid by the
Borrowers.

         "Borrower" and "Borrowers" As defined in the Preamble hereto.

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         "Business Day" Any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday
under the laws of the State of Louisiana.

         "Closing Date" August 12, 2002.

         "Code" The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

         "Collateral" That certain personal property of Swiftships Shipbuilders,
LLC more particularly described in the Shipbuilders Security Agreement; that
certain personal property of Swiftships Technologies, LLC more particularly
described in the Technologies Security Agreement; that certain real property
owned by Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC, located in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana and
more particularly described in the Shipbuilders Mortgage; that certain real
property owned by Land & Industrial Asset Management, LLC, located in Brazoria
County, Texas and more particularly described in the LIAM Deed of Trust; that
certain real property owned by Champion Shipyards, Inc., located in Harrison
County, Mississippi and more particularly described in the Champion Deed of
Trust and any other property on which a lien is granted by any Person to secure
the obligations and liabilities of the Borrower hereunder and under any of the
other Loan Documents.

         "Collateral Documents" The collective reference to the Champion Deed of
Trust, the LIAM Deed of Trust, the Shipbuilders Mortgage, the Shipbuilders
Security Agreement and the Technologies Security Agreement and all other
security documents hereafter delivered to the Lender granting a Lien on any
asset or assets of any Person to secure the obligations and liabilities of the
Borrowers hereunder and under any of the other Loan Documents or to secure any
guarantee of any such obligations and liabilities.

         "Customary Permitted Liens" Liens for taxes not yet due or which are
being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings if adequate
reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Borrowers, in
accordance with GAAP, and (ii) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics',
materialmen's, repairmen's, vendor's, lessor's, workmen's, employee's, or other
like Liens, in each case, arising in the ordinary course of business by
operation of law which are not overdue for a period of more than thirty days or
which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for
which adequate reserves have been made.

         "Champion Deed of Trust" The deed of trust, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Lender, to be executed by Champion Shipyards, Inc. in favor
of the Lender, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with
the terms thereof, granting the Lender a lien on the real property owned by
Champion Shipyards, Inc.

         "Dollars" Dollars in lawful currency of the Unites States of America.

         "Environmental Laws"

                (a) The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980 as amended, 42 U.S.C.A. Section 9601 et seq. ("CERCLA");

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               (b) the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended by
the Hazardous and Solid waste Amendment Act of 1984, 42 U.S.C.A. Section 6901
et seq.;

               (c) the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.A. Section 7401 et seq.;

               (d) the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 U.S.C.A. Section 1251 et
seq.;

               (e) the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C.A. Section 2601 et
seq.; and

               (f) all other Federal, state and local laws, rules and
regulations relating to the condition of the environment, including, without
limitation, air pollution, water pollution, noise control and/or the handling,
discharge, existence, disposal or recovery of on-site or off-site hazardous,
toxic or dangerous waste, substances or materials, as each of the foregoing may
be amended from time to time.

         "Event of Default" Any of the events specified in Section 8.1, provided
that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or
any other condition, has been satisfied.

         "Execution Date"  As defined in Section 2.1.

         "GAAP" (a) When used whether directly or indirectly through reference
to a capitalized term used therein, means (i) principles that are consistent
with the principles promulgated or adopted by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board and its predecessors, in effect for the fiscal year ended, and (ii) to the
extent consistent with such principles, the accounting practice of a Person
reflected in its financial statements for the year ended, and (b) when used in
general, other than as provided above, means principles that are (i) consistent
with the principles promulgated or adopted by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board and its predecessors, as in effect from time to time and (ii) consistently
applied with past financial statements of a Person adopting the same principles,
provided that in each case referred to in this definition of GAAP a certified
public accountant would, insofar as the use of such accounting principles is
pertinent, be in a position to deliver an unqualified opinion (other than a
qualification regarding changes in GAAP) as to financial statements in which
such principles have been properly applied.

         "Governmental Authority" Any applicable law, statute, code, ordinance,
order, rule, policy, regulation, judgment, decree, directive, injunction,
franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization or other direction or
requirement of any domestic or foreign federal, state, county, parish, municipal
or other government, department, commission, board, court, agency or any other
instrumentality of any of them, which exercises jurisdiction over the Borrowers
or any of their property.

         "Hazardous Substances"  As defined in Section 5.12.

         "Indebtedness" As to any Person, at a particular date, the sum (without
duplication and in conformity with GAAP) at such date of all (a) indebtedness
created, issued or incurred by such Person for borrowed money, (b) obligations
of such Person to pay the deferred purchase or acquisition price of property or
services, other than trade accounts payable (other than for borrowed money)
arising, and accrued expenses incurred, in the ordinary course of business, and

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(c) debt of others secured by a Lien on the property of such Person, whether or
not the respective debt so secured has been assumed by such Person.

         "Lender" As defined in the Preamble hereto.

         "Letter of Intent" That certain letter of intent, in form and substance
satisfactory to Conrad Industries, Inc., the parent company of the Lender, and
its counsel, to be entered into contemporaneously herewith among Swiftships
Shipbuilders, LLC and Swiftships Technologies, LLC, and such other Persons as
may be required by Conrad Industries, Inc., relating to the sale of certain
assets to Conrad Industries, Inc., or a direct or indirect subsidiary thereof.

         "LIAM Deed of Trust" The deed of trust, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Lender, to be executed by Land & Industrial Asset
Management, LLC in favor of the Lender, as amended or supplemented from time to
time in accordance with the terms thereof, granting the Lender a lien on the
real property owned by Land & Industrial Asset Management, LLC.

         "Lien" As applied to property or assets, real or personal, tangible or
intangible, any claim, pledge, hypothecation, mortgage, lien, charge,
restriction, deposit arrangement, security interest, security arrangement,
financing lease, deed of trust or encumbrance of any kind (including, without
limitation, any conditional sale agreement or any other title retention
agreement) or any sale or similar arrangement of any Person whether arising by
contract or under law. The term "Lien" shall also include reservations,
exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights of way, covenants, conditions,
restrictions, leases and other title exceptions and encumbrances affecting
property.

         "Loan" As defined in Section 2.1 hereof.

         "Loan Documents" This Agreement, the Note, the Collateral Documents and
all other documents, agreements and instruments executed and delivered by the
Borrowers (or any other Person) to the Lender in connection with this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby.

         "Maturity Date" Unless extended by the Lender in its sole discretion,
the first to occur of (i) September 30, 2002, (ii) the date of the Closing as
defined in an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement which may be entered into among
Conrad Industries, Inc., a direct or indirect subsidiary thereof, Swift Group,
LLC, Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC, Swiftships Technologies, LLC, Dennis
Spurgeon, Robert Ness, and Calvin LeLeux, or (iii) the acceleration by the
Lender of the amounts due under the Note.

         "Note" As defined in Section 2.1 hereof.

         "Obligations" The collective reference to unpaid principal of and
interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in
bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like
proceeding, relating to the Borrowers or any of their wholly-owned Subsidiaries
(if any), whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is
allowed in such proceeding) on the Note, any and all other obligations and
liabilities of the Borrowers or any other Person executing and delivering a Loan
Document, to the Lender, and any and all other obligations and liabilities of
one or more of the Borrowers or any other Person

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under the Letter of Intent to Conrad Industries, Inc., or a direct or indirect
subsidiary thereof, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or
to become due, now existing or hereafter incurred, arising under, out of or in
connection with this Agreement, the Note, the other Loan Documents, any other
document made, delivered or given in connection herewith or therewith, or the
Letter of Intent, whether on account of principal, interest, fees, indemnities,
costs, expenses (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of
counsel to the Lender or its Affiliates), taxes, penalties or otherwise.

         "Permitted Liens" As defined in Section 7.1.

         "Person" Any natural person, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company or other organization, whether or not a legal entity, and
government and/or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

         "Shipbuilders Mortgage" The mortgage, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Lender, to be executed by Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC, LLC
in favor of the Lender, as amended or supplemented from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof, granting the Lender a lien on the real
property owned by Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC.

         "Shipbuilders Security Agreement" The security agreement, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Lender, to be executed by Swiftships Shipbuilders,
LLC, granting the Lender a security interest in the personal property owned by
Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC.

         "Subsidiary" As to any Person, any corporation, association or other
business entity in which such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such
Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries owns sufficient equity or voting
interests to enable it or them (as a group) ordinarily, in the absence of
contingencies, to elect a majority of directors (or Persons performing similar
functions) of such entity, and any partnership, limited liability company or
joint venture if more than a 50% interest in the profits or capital thereof is
owned by such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such Person and one
or more of its Subsidiaries. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any
reference to a "Subsidiary" is a reference to a Subsidiary of the Borrowers.

         "Technologies Security Agreement" The security agreement, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Lender, to be executed by Swiftships Technologies,
LLC, granting the Lender a security interest in the personal property owned by
Swiftships Technologies, LLC.

               Section 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions.

                    (a) A reference herein to any document or agreement shall
include such document or agreement as amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time in accordance with its terms and the terms of this Agreement. A
reference to any law includes any amendment or modification to such law.

                    (b) Unless otherwise specified therein, all terms defined in
this Agreement shall have the same meanings when used in the Note or any other
Loan Documents or any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant
hereto.

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          (c) The words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar
import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and
not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section, subsection,
Schedule and references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

          (d) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

          (e) A reference herein to any Person includes its permitted successors
and permitted assigns.

                   ARTICLE II AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES

          Section 2.1 The Loan. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, on the Closing Date (or as soon thereafter as the conditions in
Section 3.1 hereof have been satisfied or waived by the Lender), the Lender
agrees to advance to the Borrowers, on a multiple advance basis in accordance
with Section 2.5 hereof, up to the aggregate principal sum of $1,000,000.00.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence or anything else contained herein to the
contrary, until the date that the Asset Purchase Agreement which may be entered
into among Conrad Industries, Inc., a direct or indirect subsidiary thereof,
Swift Group, LLC, Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC, Swiftships Technologies, LLC,
Dennis Spurgeon, Robert Ness and Calvin LeLeux, is actually entered into (the
"Execution Date"), the Lender shall not be obligated to advance more than the
aggregate principal amount of $500,000 to the Borrowers. The aggregate principal
amount funded by the Lender to the Borrowers pursuant to this Section 2.1 shall
be referred to as the "Loan." The Loan shall be evidenced by a promissory note
of the Borrowers in substantially the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (the
"Note"), dated as of the Closing Date and completed with appropriate insertions.
Further, the Loan is not a revolving line of credit and the Borrowers may not
borrow, repay and re-borrow funds from the Lender hereunder. Any amounts
borrowed hereunder shall count as advanced funds in the calculation of the
Available Loan, regardless of whether such advances have been repaid by the
Borrowers to the Lender.

          Section 2.2 The Note. The Note shall represent the obligation of the
Borrowers to pay to the Lender the aggregate principal amount of the Loan, plus
interest accrued thereon, as set forth below. The Borrowers irrevocably
authorize the Lender to make or cause to be made a notation on the Lender's
books and records, at or about the time of the Lender's receipt of any principal
payment on the Note, an appropriate notation on the books and records reflecting
such payment. The aggregate unpaid amount set forth on the Lender's books and
records shall be prima facie evidence of the principal amount thereof owing and
unpaid to the Lender, but the failure to record, or any error in so recording,
any such amount shall not affect the obligations of the Borrowers hereunder or
under the Note to make payments of principal of and interest on the Note when
due.

          Section 2.3 Interest. Except as provided in Section 2.4, the Loan
shall bear interest at a rate of eight percent (8%) per annum. Interest shall be
computed on the basis of a 360 day year and paid for the actual number of days
elapsed (including the first but excluding the last day) during any period.

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     Section 2.4 Interest After Default. During the continuance of an Event of
Default until such Event of Default has been cured or remedied or such Event of
Default has been waived by the Lender, the Lender, at its option, and if
permitted under applicable law, may do one or both of the following: (a)
increase the applicable per annum interest rate on the Loan by five hundred
(500) basis points (i.e., 5%), and (b) add any unpaid, accrued interest to
principal and such sum will bear interest therefrom until paid at the applicable
interest rate for the Loan (including any increased rate). The interest rate
will not exceed the maximum rate permitted by applicable law.

     Section 2.5 Procedure for Borrowing. The Borrowers may borrow hereunder
during the Advance Period on any Business Day (the "Borrowing Date"), subject to
the limit of the Available Loan and the other terms and conditions set forth
herein, provided that the Borrowers give the Lender notice of its borrowing,
which notice must be received by the Lender prior to 10:00 A.M., Central time,
(1) Business Day prior to the requested Borrowing Date, specifying (i) the
amount to be borrowed, (ii) the requested Borrowing Date, and (iii) the use of
the proceeds for the amount being borrowed, which use must be specifically
approved by the Lender. Each advance requested hereunder shall be in a minimum
amount of $10,000, unless the Lender agrees otherwise.

     Section 2.6 Funds for Loans. Upon receipt of the documents required by
Sections 2.5, 3.1 and 3.2 and the satisfaction of the other conditions set forth
herein, to the extent applicable, the Lender will make available to the
Borrowers the aggregate amount of the requested advance; provided, however, that
the Lender reserves the right to pay all or part of the proceeds of such advance
directly to third parties, if the Lender feels such action is warranted.

     Section 2.7 Repayment of the Loan.

          (a) All payments (including prepayments) to be made by the Borrowers
hereunder, whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise, shall
be made without set off or counterclaim and shall be made prior to 11:00 A.M.,
Central time, on the due date thereof to the Lender in Dollars and in
immediately available funds. If any payment hereunder becomes due and payable on
a day other than a Business Day, unless otherwise provided herein, such payment
shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, with respect to
payments of principal, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable
rate during such extension.

          (b) The Borrowers promise to pay on the Maturity Date, and there shall
become absolutely due and payable on the Maturity Date, the entire unpaid
principal balance of the Loan on such date, together with all accrued and unpaid
interest thereon.

          (c) Any payment made under this Agreement, the Note or the Collateral
Documents shall be applied in the following order: first, to any fees or
expenses payable under this Agreement, the Note and the Collateral Documents;
second, to any accrued and unpaid interest; and third, to any principal
outstanding under the Note.

     Section 2.8 Prepayment. The Borrowers may prepay the principal balance of
the Note and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon in whole or in part at any
time or from time to time without penalty or premium.

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     Section 2.9 Joint, Several and Solidarily Obligations. All Obligations of
the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, whether as the
collective "Borrowers" or otherwise, shall be joint and several and solidary.

                        ARTICLE III CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     Section 3.1 Conditions Precedent to the Initial Advance. The agreement of
the Lender to make the initial advance under the Loan is subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

          (a) Loan Documents. Each of the Loan Documents shall have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the respective parties thereto, shall be
in full force and effect and shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the
Lender.

          (b) Copies of Charter Documents. The Lender shall have received from
each of the Borrowers a certified copy of each of (i) its articles of
organization or incorporation as in effect on such date of certification, and
(ii) its operating agreement or by-laws, all as in effect on such date.

          (c) Incumbency Certificates. The Lender shall have received from each
of the Borrowers an incumbency certificate, dated as of the date hereof, signed
by the duly authorized representative of the Borrowers certifying that the
resolutions authorizing the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have
been duly authorized by the necessary limited liability company or corporate
action and giving the name and bearing a specimen signature of each individual
who shall be authorized: (i) to sign, in the name and on behalf of the Borrowers
each of the Loan Documents; and (ii) to give notices and to take other action on
its behalf under the Loan Documents.

          (d) Validity of Liens. The Collateral Documents shall be effective to
create in favor of the Lender a legal, valid and enforceable lien or security
interest in the Collateral, with priority acceptable to the Lender.

          (e) Lien Search Results. The Lender shall have received the results of
appropriate searches with respect to the Collateral, indicating no Liens thereon
(other than those approved by the Lender) or Liens that are to be released in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and otherwise in form and
substance satisfactory to the Lender.

          (f) Title Insurance. The Lender shall have received title insurance
with respect to the real property Collateral, in form and substance satisfactory
to the Lender, if required by the Lender.

          (g) Other Third Party Consents. The Lender, if it so requires, shall
have received evidence that the Borrowers have obtained all consents (if any)
necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

          (h) Letter of Intent. The Lender, or its parent company, Conrad
Industries, Inc., shall have received a fully executed copy of the Letter of
Intent.

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               (i) Additional Matters. All other documents and matters in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Lender.

          Section 3.2 Conditions Precedent to Each Subsequent Advance. The
agreement of the Lender to make subsequent advances under the Loan is subject to
the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

               (a) Representations and Warranties True. Each of the
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents or in any document or instrument delivered pursuant to or in
connection with this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of such
advance.

               (b) No Event of Default. No Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing.

               (c) Advance Request. The Borrowers shall have furnished to the
Lender an advance request pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof, and the Lender shall
have approved of the use of proceeds of the advance requested. Further,
reasonable measures shall be in place to ensure that the proceeds of such
advance are used for the designated purpose(s).

               (d) Proceedings and Documents. All proceedings in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and
all other documents incident thereto shall be satisfactory in substance and in
form to the Lender and its counsel, and the Lender and its counsel shall have
received all information and originals or copies of such documents as the Lender
may reasonably request.

                              ARTICLE IV SECURITY

          Section 4.1 Security of the Borrowers. The Obligations shall be
secured by the liens on the real and personal property of the Borrowers created
pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

                    ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     In order to induce the Lender to enter into this Agreement and to make
the Loan, the Borrowers represent and warrant to the Lender as follows:

          Section 5.1 Liabilities and Litigation. Set forth on Schedule 5.1
attached hereto and made a part hereof is a listing of all of the liabilities of
and litigation involving the Borrowers as of the date hereof. Champion
Shipyards, Inc. hereby specifically represents and warrants that the only
liabilities it has are (a) the $200,000 loan made by MC Bank & Trust Company to
Champion Shipyards, Inc. and Swift Group, LLC, evidenced by that certain
Promissory Note dated April 26, 2002 and (b) its guaranty of the $5,000,000 loan
made by BLC Commercial Capital Corp. to Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC dated June
28, 2000 (the "BLC Loan"). Swiftships Technologies, LLC specifically represents
and warrants that the only liability it has is its guaranty of the BLC Loan.

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          Section 5.2 Organization and Power; Good Standing. Each of the
Borrowers is a limited liability company or corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization
and has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as it is
presently conducted and to enter into this Agreement, the Note and those Loan
Documents to which it is a party. Each of the Borrowers is qualified to do
business and is in good standing as a foreign limited liability company or
corporation in each jurisdiction in which the character of the property it owns
or uses or the nature of the business it transacts requires it to be so
qualified.

          Section 5.3 Authorization; Consent. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, the Note and the Loan Documents to which the
Borrowers are a party have been duly authorized by all necessary action by such
entities and do not and will not (a) violate any provision of law applicable to
such entities, their respective operating agreements, by-laws or any order,
judgment or decree of any court or other agency of government binding on such
entities; (b) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due
notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any contractual obligation of
such entities except those agreements for which appropriate waivers or consents
have been obtained and which are in full force and effect and copies of which
have been provided to the Lender; (c) result in or require the creation or
imposition of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of such entities
(other than in favor of the Lender); or (d) require any approval, authorization
or declaration of, or to, any other Person except for those Persons from whom
appropriate consents or approvals have been obtained and which are in full force
and effect and copies of which have been provided to the Lender.

          Section 5.4 Binding Obligations. This Agreement, the Note and the
Collateral Documents to which the Borrowers are a party, when executed and
delivered will be, legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrowers
enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.

          Section 5.5 Title and Liens. Except as disclosed in writing to the
Lender, the Borrowers have good and marketable title to their properties,
including the Collateral, free and clear of all mortgages, security interests
and encumbrances, except for covenants, easements, and minor irregularities in
title which do not interfere with the business or operations of the Borrowers or
the usefulness of such properties in their business. The only assets used, or
necessary for use, in the business conducted by the Borrowers are owned by no
Person other than Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC and Swiftships Technologies, LLC.
Swiftships Technologies, LLC specifically represents and warrants that it is the
sole owner of all of the designs, plans, drawings and specifications relating to
the aluminum vessels built by Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC.

          Section 5.6 Litigation. There are no actions or proceedings pending
or, to the knowledge of the Borrowers threatened or affecting the Borrowers
before any court or governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency
or instrumentality which if determined adversely to the Borrowers would have a
material adverse effect on its business or operations.

          Section 5.7 Compliance with Laws. The Borrowers have complied with all
applicable statutes, regulations, ordinances, court decrees or other directives
of the United States

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of America and all states, counties, municipalities and agencies with respect to
the manufacture and sale of its goods, the rendition of its services and the
conduct of their business.

               Section 5.8 Statements. No representation, warranty or statement
by the Borrowers contained herein or in any certificate or other document
furnished or to be furnished by the Borrowers pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement contained or at the time of delivery shall contain an untrue statement
of material fact or omits, or shall omit at the time of delivery, to state any
material fact necessary to make it not misleading. No fact is known to the
Borrowers which adversely affects or in the future may adversely affect its
business or operations which has not been disclosed to the Lender.

               Section 5.9 Environmental Compliance.

                    (a) None of the Borrowers is in violation, or alleged
violation, of any judgment, decree, order, law, license, rule or regulation
pertaining to environmental matters, including without limitation, those arising
under the Environmental Laws which violation would have a material adverse
effect on the environment or the business, assets or financial condition of the
Borrowers.

                    (b) None of the Borrowers has received notice from any third
party including, without limitation, any Governmental Authority, (i) that it has
been identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") as
a potentially responsible party under CERCLA with respect to a site listed on
the National Priorities List, 40 CFR Part 300 Appendix B; (ii) that any
hazardous waste, as defined by 42 U.S.C. ss.6903(5), any hazardous substances as
defined by 42 U.S.C. ss.9601(14), any pollutant or contaminant as defined by 42
U.S.C. ss.9601(33) and any toxic substances, asbestos, PCBs, dioxins, petroleum
products, or hazardous, toxic or dangerous materials or other chemicals,
substances or waste regulated by any Environmental Laws ("Hazardous Substances")
which it has generated, transported or disposed of has been found at any site at
which a federal, state or local agency or other third party has conducted or has
ordered that the Borrowers conduct a remedial investigation, removal or other
response action pursuant to any Environmental Law; or (iii) that it is or shall
be a named party to any claim, action, cause of action, complaint, or legal or
administrative proceeding (in each case, contingent or otherwise) arising out of
any third party's incurrence of costs, expenses, losses or damages of any kind
whatsoever in connection with the release of Hazardous Substances.

                    (c) (i) No portion of any property, now or in the past
owned, operated, leased or otherwise occupied by, or on behalf of, the Borrowers
has been used for the handling, processing, storage or disposal of Hazardous
Substances except in accordance with applicable Environmental Laws; and no
underground tank or other underground storage receptacle for Hazardous
Substances is located on any portion of such properties; (ii) in the course of
any activities conducted by, or on behalf of, the Borrowers or on their
properties, no Hazardous Substances have been generated or are being used on
such properties except in accordance with applicable Environmental Laws; (iii)
there have been no releases (i.e. any past or present releasing, spilling,
leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping,
disposing or dumping) or threatened releases of Hazardous Substances on, upon,
into or from the properties of the Borrowers; (iv) to the best of the Borrowers'
knowledge, there have been no releases on, upon, from or into any real property
in the vicinity of any property now or

                                       11

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in the past owned, operated, leased or otherwise occupied by, or on behalf of,
the Borrowers; and (v) in addition, any Hazardous Substances that have been
generated on any property now or in the past owned, operated, leased or
otherwise occupied by, or on behalf of, the Borrowers have been transported
off-site only by carriers having an identification number issued by the EPA,
treated or disposed of only by treatment or disposal facilities maintaining
valid permits as required under Environmental Laws, which transporters and
facilities have been and are operating in compliance with such permits and
applicable Environmental Laws.

                    (d) None of the Borrowers nor any property now or in the
past owned, operated, leased or otherwise occupied by, or on behalf of, the
Borrowers is subject to any applicable environmental law requiring the
performance of Hazardous Substances site assessment, or the removal or
remediation of Hazardous Substances, or the giving of notice to any Governmental
Authority or the recording or delivery to other Persons of an environmental
disclosure document or statement by virtue of the transactions set forth herein
and contemplated hereby.

                        ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         The Borrowers hereby agree that, so long as the Loan or the Note is
outstanding or any amount is owing to the Lender hereunder or under any other
Loan Document:

               Section 6.1 Punctual Payment. The Borrowers will duly and
punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal and interest on the Loan, all
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Note.

               Section 6.2 Inspection of Property; Books and Records;
Discussions. The Borrowers shall keep proper books of records and account in
conformity with GAAP and satisfy all requirements of law in respect of all
dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities; and permit
representatives of the Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties and
examine and make abstracts from any of its books and records at any reasonable
time and as often as may reasonably be desired and to discuss the business,
operations, properties and financial and other condition of the Borrowers with
officers and employees of the Borrowers and with the Borrowers' independent
certified public accountants.

               Section 6.3 Notices. Promptly, and in any event within five (5)
Business Days of the occurrence of any event described in subsections (a)
through (f) below, give notice to the Lender in writing of:

                    (a) the occurrence of any Event of Default;

                    (b) any setoff, claims, withholdings or other defenses to
which any of the Collateral, or the Lender's rights with respect to the
Collateral are subject;

                    (c) any litigation or proceeding affecting a Borrower in
which (i) the amount claimed from such Borrower is not covered by insurance or
(ii) injunctive or similar relief is sought which if granted would have a
material adverse effect;

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                         (d) a Borrower's incurring any actual or contingent
obligations or liabilities exceeding $10,000 in the aggregate;

                         (e) any other development or event which could be
expected to have a material adverse effect on a Borrower; and

                         (f) (i) any violation by a Borrower of any
Environmental Law that such Borrower reports in writing or is reportable by such
Borrower in writing (or for which any written report supplemental to any oral
report is made) to any federal, state or local environmental agency and (ii)
upon becoming aware thereof, of any inquiry, proceeding, investigation or other
action, including a notice from any agency of potential environmental liability,
or any federal, state or local environmental agency or board, that has the
potential to materially affect the assets, liabilities, financial conditions or
operations of a Borrower or the Lender's security interests pursuant to the
Collateral Documents;

         Each notice pursuant to subsections (a) through (f) above shall be
accompanied by a statement of an authorized representative of the Borrowers
setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what
action the Borrowers propose to take with respect thereto.

               Section 6.4 Maintenance of Property; Insurance. The Borrowers
shall keep all property useful and necessary in its business in good working
order and condition, and shall maintain normal and customary insurance with
respect to any and all property owned, leased or operated by a Borrower, in
customary amounts and with customary deductibles, as would be maintained by a
prudent owner, lessee or operator of similar properties.

               Section 6.5 Taxes. Each of the Borrowers will duly pay and
discharge, or cause to be paid and discharged, before the same shall become
overdue, all taxes (including, without limitation, payroll taxes), assessments
and other governmental charges imposed upon it and its properties, sales and
activities, or any part thereof, or upon the income or profits therefrom, that
become due after the date hereof, as well as all claims for labor, materials, or
supplies that if unpaid might by law become a lien or charge upon any of its
property; provided that any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim need not
be paid if the validity or amount thereof shall currently be contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings and if the Borrowers shall have set aside on
their books adequate reserves with respect thereto; and provided further that
the Borrowers will pay all such taxes, assessments, charges, levies or claims
forthwith upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any lien that may
have attached as security therefor. In addition to the foregoing, upon the
request of the Lender, the Borrowers shall provide satisfactory evidence to the
Lender of the payment of payroll taxes due by Borrowers.

               Section 6.6 Environmental Laws. Each of the Borrowers shall
comply with, and ensure compliance by all tenants and subtenants, if any, with,
all applicable Environmental Laws and obtain and comply with and maintain, and
ensure that all tenants and subtenants obtain and comply with and maintain, any
and all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by
applicable Environmental Laws except to the extent that failure to comply
therewith could not, in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a material
adverse effect.

                                       13

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          Section 6.7 Delivery; Further Assurances. Each of the Borrowers will,
at their expense:

               (a) execute and deliver any and all instruments necessary or
as the Lender may request to grant and perfect a Lien on the Collateral, subject
to no other Liens other than Permitted Liens, and, without any request by the
Lender, immediately deliver or cause to be delivered to the Lender, in due form
for transfer (duly endorsed in blank or, if appropriate, accompanied by duly
executed blank stock or bond powers), all securities, chattel paper, instruments
and documents of title, if any, at any time representing all or any of the
Collateral;

               (b) upon request of the Lender, forthwith execute and deliver or
cause to be executed and delivered to the Lender, in due form for filing or
recording (and pay the cost of filing or recording the same in all public
offices deemed necessary by the Lender), such assignments, security agreements,
pledge agreements, consents, waivers, financing statements, stock or bond
powers, and other documents, and do such other acts and things, all as the
Lender may from time to time reasonably request, to establish and maintain to
the satisfaction of the Lender valid perfected Liens in all Collateral (free of
all other Liens, claims, and rights of third parties other than Permitted
Liens).

          Section 6.8 Use of Proceeds. The Borrowers shall use the proceeds of
the Loan solely for the purposes designated in each advance request, which must
be approved by the Lender.

                         ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     Each of the Borrowers hereby agrees that, so long as the Loan or the Note
is outstanding or any amount is owing to the Lender hereunder or under any other
Loan Document:

          Section 7.1 Limitation on Liens. None of the Borrowers shall create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any assets or properties of the
Borrowers, except for:

               (a) Customary Permitted Liens;

               (b) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts
(other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and
appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred
in the ordinary course of business;

               (c) Liens in connection with the refinancing of existing debt in
an amount not in excess of the balance thereof outstanding on the date hereof;

               (d) Liens existing on the date hereof and disclosed in Schedule
7.1(d), provided, that to the extent the proceeds of advances under the Loan are
used to pay off the Indebtedness associated with such Liens, such Liens shall be
discharged and shall not be "Permitted Liens" hereunder; and

               (e) Liens created pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

     Clauses (a) through (e) of this Section 7.1 are referred to as the
"Permitted Liens".

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<PAGE>

          Section 7.2 Prohibition of Fundamental Changes. None of the Borrowers
shall, after the date hereof, (a) engage in any business activities
substantially different than those in which they are presently engaged, (b)
cease operations, liquidate, merge, transfer, acquire or consolidate with any
other entity, change ownership, dissolve or transfer or sell assets out of the
ordinary course of business, or (c) alter or otherwise modify their respective
existing capital structures.

          Section 7.3 Limitation on Sale of Assets. Other than in the ordinary
course of business, without the prior written consent of the Lender, none of the
Borrowers shall sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or give
options to purchase (a) any stock or other equity interests in them or (b) any
of their assets whether now owned or hereafter acquired.

          Section 7.4 Limitation on Indebtedness. None of the Borrowers shall
create, incur, assume, guarantee, endorse, become or be liable in any manner
with respect to any Indebtedness, except:

               (a) taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies which
are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and for which the obligor has set aside on its books adequate
reserves;

               (b) contingent liabilities arising out of the endorsement in the
ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments in the course of
collection;

               (c) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof which is listed in
Schedule 7.4 and refinancings in the outstanding principal balance as of the
date hereof of said Indebtedness; and

               (d) the Obligations.

          Section 7.5 Limitation on Negative Pledges. None of the Borrowers
shall create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any contractual obligation in
favor of any Person other than the Lender and the holders of any Indebtedness
permitted under Section 7.1 which prohibits, restricts or limits the ability of
the Borrowers from creating, assuming, incurring, granting, or suffering to
exist, Liens on any assets or properties of the Borrowers.

          Section 7.6 Letter of Intent. None of the Borrowers which may be party
to the Letter of Intent, nor any members of any Borrower party thereto, shall
have breached any of the binding provisions of the Letter of Intent.

                              ARTICLE VIII DEFAULT

          Section 8.1 Events of Default. If any one or more of the following
events shall occur and be continuing:

               (a) the Borrowers shall fail to pay any principal of or interest
on the Loan, or the Borrowers shall fail to pay any fee or any other amount due
hereunder or under any of the Loan Documents, in each case when the same shall
become due and payable, whether at the stated date of maturity or any
accelerated date of maturity or at any other date fixed for payment;

                                       15

<PAGE>

               (b) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the
Borrowers herein or in any other Loan Document or which is contained in any
certificate, document or financial or other statement furnished by it at any
time under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall
prove to have been incorrect in any material respect on or as of the date made
or deemed made;

               (c) the Borrowers shall default in the observance or performance
of any agreement contained in Section 6 or in any other Loan Document beyond any
period of grace provided for therein;

               (d) the Borrowers shall default in the observance or performance
of any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or in any
other Loan Document and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of
15 days from the earlier of (i) written notice thereof to the Borrowers from the
Lender or (ii) actual notice thereof by an authorized representative of the
Borrowers;

               (e) (i) any Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrowers shall
commence any case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future
law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for
relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankruptcy or
insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up,
liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its
debts, or (B) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator
or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its
assets, or any Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrowers shall make a general
assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (ii) there shall be commenced
against any Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrowers any case, proceeding or
other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above which (A) results in
the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment or (B)
remains undismissed, undischarged or unbonded for a period of 60 days; or (iii)
there shall be commenced against any Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrowers
any case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of
attachment, execution, distraint or similar process against all or any
substantial part of its assets which results in the entry of an order for any
such relief which shall not have been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded
pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; or (iv) any Borrower or
any Affiliate of the Borrowers shall take any action in furtherance of, or
indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the acts set
forth in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above; or (v) any Borrower or any Affiliate
of the Borrowers shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall admit in
writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or (vi) the Internal
Revenue Service shall seize or levy any assets of any of the Borrowers; or (vii)
any other creditor of the Borrowers initiates foreclosure or other similar
proceedings on any assets of any Borrower;

               (f) (i) any one or more of the Loan Documents shall cease, for
any reason, to be in full force and effect, or any action or suit at law or in
equity or other legal proceeding to cancel, revoke or rescind any one or more of
the Loan Documents shall be commenced by or on behalf of any Borrower or any
Governmental Authority, or (ii) the Lien created by any of the Collateral
Documents shall cease to be enforceable and of the same effect and priority
purported to be created thereby;

                                       16

<PAGE>

               (g) all or a substantial part of the properties subject to the
Liens of the Collateral Documents shall be condemned, seized or otherwise
appropriated, or custody or control of such properties shall be assumed or the
operation thereof or production therefrom shall cease by or as a result of any
action by any Governmental Authority or court of competent jurisdiction or at
the insistence of any Governmental Authority;

               (h) any Borrower shall be enjoined, restrained or in any way
prevented by the order of any court or any administrative or regulatory agency
from conducting any material part of its business;

               (i) (i) there shall occur any material damage to, or loss, theft
or destruction of, any Collateral, whether or not insured, or (ii) any strike,
lockout, labor dispute, embargo, condemnation, act of God or public enemy, or
other casualty, which, in the case of either (i) or (ii), causes the cessation
or substantial curtailment of revenue producing activities at any facility of a
Borrower if such event or circumstance is not covered by business interruption
insurance and would have a material adverse effect on such Borrower;

               (j) any Liens against the property or assets of the Borrowers,
other than Permitted Liens, in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 arise after
the date hereof; or any judgments are rendered after the date hereof against the
Borrowers in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000;

               (k) in the opinion of the Lender, any material adverse change
occurs in (i) the business, operations, property or condition (financial or
otherwise) of the Borrowers or (ii) the facts, circumstances or conditions
utilized by or deemed material to the Lender, or upon which the Lender relied,
in making the decision to make the Loan to the Borrowers;

then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default specified
in paragraph (e) of this section, automatically all Obligations (with accrued
interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement shall
immediately become due and payable, and (B) if such event is any other Event of
Default, the Lender may by notice to the Borrowers, declare the Obligations
hereunder (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this
Agreement to be due and payable forthwith, whereupon the same shall immediately
become due and payable. Except as expressly provided above in this Section 8.1,
presentment, demand, protest and all other notices of any kind are hereby
expressly waived by the Borrowers to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law.

     Section 8.2 Remedies. In case any one or more Events of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, and whether or not the Lender shall have accelerated
the maturity of the Loan pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof, the Lender, if owed any
amount with respect to the Loan, may proceed to protect and enforce its rights
by suit in equity, action at law or other appropriate proceeding, whether for
the specific performance of any covenant or agreement contained in this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any instrument pursuant to which the
Obligations to the Lender are evidenced, including as permitted by applicable
law the obtaining of the ex parte appointment of a receiver, and, if such amount
shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, proceed to enforce the
payment thereof or any other legal or equitable right of the Lender. No remedy
herein conferred upon the Lender or the holder of the

                                       17

<PAGE>

Note is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy and each and every remedy
shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given
hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or any
other provision of law.

                            ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

          Section 9.1 Amendments and Waivers. Neither this Agreement nor any
other Loan Document, nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended,
supplemented or modified except in writing executed by the parties hereto. The
Lender may, from time to time, amend, terminate, waive or otherwise modify on
such terms and conditions as the Lender may specify in a written instrument, any
of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any Event
of Default and its consequences. In the case of any waiver, the Borrowers and
the Lender shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder and
under the other Loan Documents, and any Event of Default waived shall be deemed
to be cured and not continuing; no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
other Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

          Section 9.2 Notices. Any notice, request and demand to or upon the
respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by
facsimile transmission), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall
be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered, or when deposited in
the mail, first class postage prepaid, or, in the case of telecopy or facsimile
notice, when received, addressed as follows or to such other address as may be
hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto:

               (i)   if to the Borrowers, c/o Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC, at
1105 Levee Road, P.O. Box 2869, Morgan City, LA 70381, fax number (985)
380-2559, Attention: Calvin LeLeux;

               (ii)  if to the Lender, at1100 Brashear Avenue, Suite 200, P.O.
Box 790, Morgan City, LA 70381, fax number (985) 702-1126, Attention: Cecil A.
Hernandez, with a copy to: JONES, WALKER, WAECHTER, POITEVENT, CARRERE &
DENEGRE, L.L.P., 201 St. Charles, 50th Floor, New Orleans, Louisiana 70170,
Attention: Dionne M. Rousseau, Esq.;

provided that any notice, request or demand to or upon the Lender pursuant to
this Agreement shall not be effective until received.

          Section 9.3 Expenses. The Borrowers agree to pay all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees
and costs, and reasonable consulting, accounting, appraisal, investment banking
and similar professional fees and charges) incurred by the Lender in connection
with (i) the enforcement of or preservation of rights under any of the Loan
Documents against the Borrowers or the administration thereof after the
occurrence of an Event of Default and (ii) any litigation, proceeding or dispute
whether arising hereunder or otherwise, in any way related to the Lender's
relationship with the Borrowers. The covenants of this Section 9.3 shall survive
payment or satisfaction of payment of amounts owing with respect to the Note.

                                       18

<PAGE>

          Section 9.4 Indemnification. The Borrowers agree to indemnify and hold
harmless the Lender from and against any and all claims, actions and suits
whether groundless or otherwise, and from and against any and all liabilities,
losses, damages, taxes, penalties and expenses of every nature and character,
including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel,
arising out of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or the
transactions contemplated hereby including, without limitation, (a) any actual
or proposed use by the Borrowers of the proceeds of the Loan, (b) the Borrowers
entering into or performing this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents,
(c) any taxes or penalties levied or assessed by any governmental agency or
authority, including, without limitation, the Internal Revenue Service, relating
to non-payment of payroll or any other type of taxes by any Borrower or any of
its Affiliates, or (d) with respect to the Borrowers and their properties and
assets, the violation of any Environmental Law, the presence, disposal, escape,
seepage, leakage, spillage, discharge, emission, release or threatened release
of any Hazardous Substances or any action, suit, proceeding or investigation
brought or threatened with respect to any Hazardous Substances (including, but
not limited to claims with respect to wrongful death, personal injury or damage
to property). The foregoing shall not apply to the extent any liability, loss,
damage, tax, penalty, expense, claim, action or suit arises (i) from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Lender, or (ii) with respect to any
Collateral, from and after such time that the Collateral has been foreclosed
upon. In litigation, or the preparation therefor, the Lender shall be entitled
to select its own counsel and the Borrowers agree to pay promptly the reasonable
fees and expenses of such counsel as incurred. If, and to the extent that the
obligations of the Borrowers under this Section 9.4 are unenforceable for any
reason, such parties hereby agree to make the maximum contribution to the
payment in satisfaction of such obligations which is permissible under
applicable law. The covenants contained in this Section 9.4 shall survive
payment of satisfaction in full of all other Obligations.

          Section 9.5 Survival of Covenants, Etc. All covenants, agreements,
representations and warranties made herein, in the Note, in any of the other
Loan Documents or in any documents or other papers delivered by or on behalf of
the Borrowers pursuant hereto shall be deemed to have been relied upon by the
Lender, notwithstanding any investigation heretofore or hereafter made by any of
them, and shall survive the making by the Lender of the Loan, as herein
contemplated, and shall continue in full force and effect so long as any amount
due under this Agreement or the Note or any of the other Loan Documents remains
outstanding, and for such further time as may be otherwise expressly specified
in this Agreement. All statements contained in any certificate or other paper
delivered to the Lender at any time by or on behalf of the Borrowers pursuant
hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall
constitute representations and warranties by the Borrowers hereunder.

          Section 9.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrowers
and the Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that none of
the Borrowers may assign or transfer any of their rights or obligations under
this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Lender.

          Section 9.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or
more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts
(including by facsimile

                                       19

<PAGE>

transmission), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to
constitute one and the same instrument.

               Section 9.8 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which
is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any
such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

               Section 9.9 Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan
Documents represent the agreement of the Borrowers and the Lender with respect
to the subject matter hereof, and there are no promises, undertakings,
representations or warranties by the Lender relative to subject matter hereof
not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

               Section 9.10 Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by
and interpreted in accordance with the internal laws (as opposed to conflicts of
law provisions) of the state of Louisiana and any dispute arising out of,
connected with, related to, or incidental to the relationship established
between the Borrowers and the Lender in connection with this agreement, and
whether arising in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, shall be resolved in
accordance with the internal laws and decisions of the state of Louisiana.

               Section 9.11 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. The Borrowers
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

                    (a) submit, for themselves and their property in any legal
action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to
which they are a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in
respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the Courts of the
State of Louisiana, the courts of the United States of America for the Eastern
District of Louisiana and appellate courts from any thereof;

                    (b) consent that any such action or proceeding may be
brought in such courts and waives any objection that they may now or hereafter
have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that
such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to
plead or claim the same;

                    (c) agree that service of process in any such action or
proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified
mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the
Borrowers at the address set forth in Section 9.2 or at such other address of
which the Lender shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

                    (d) agree that nothing herein shall affect the right to
effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit
the right to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

                    (e) waive, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any
right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred
to in this subsection any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

                                       20

<PAGE>

         Section 9.12 Acknowledgments. The Borrowers hereby acknowledge that the
Lender has no fiduciary relationship with or duty to the Borrowers arising out
of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and
the relationship between the Borrowers, on one hand, and the Lender, on the
other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and
creditor; and that no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan
Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby
between the Lender and the Borrowers.

         Section 9.13 Waivers of Jury Trial. The Borrowers and the Lender hereby
voluntarily, knowingly, irrevocably and unconditionally waive any right to have
a jury participate in resolving any dispute (whether based upon contract, tort
or otherwise) between the Borrowers and the Lender, arising out of or in any way
related to this agreement, any other Loan Document, or any relationship between
the Borrowers and the Lender. This provision is a material inducement to the
Lender to provide the financing described herein or in the other Loan Documents.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Loan Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as
of the day and year first above written.

BORROWER:                                          LENDER:

SWIFT GROUP, LLC                                   CONRAD SHIPYARD, L.L.C.
SWIFTSHIPS SHIPBUILDERS, LLC
SWIFTSHIPS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC                       By: /s/ Cecil A. Hernandez
LAND & INDUSTRIAL ASSET                                -------------------------
   MANAGEMENT, LLC                                 Name:  Cecil A.  Hernandez
SWIFTSHIPS FREEPORT, INC.                          Title: Secretary & CFO
CHAMPION SHIPYARDS, INC.

By:    /s/ Calvin LeLeux
       -------------------------------
Name:  Calvin LeLeux
Title: Authorized Representative of each of
       the foregoing entities

                                       21<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") by and between Conrad
Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Lewis J. Derbes,
Jr. ("Executive") is hereby entered into effective as of September 3, 2002 (the
"Effective Date").

                                    RECITALS

     WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive, and Executive desires to
be employed by the Company, all on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, terms, covenants
and conditions set forth herein and the performance of each, it is hereby agreed
as follows:

                                   AGREEMENTS

     1.   Employment and Duties.

          (a)  Effective on September 30, 2002 (the "Start Date"), the Company
     shall employ Executive as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
     the Company. As such, Executive shall have responsibilities, duties and
     authority reasonably accorded to, expected of and consistent with
     Executive's positions as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
     the Company. Executive hereby accepts this employment upon the terms and
     conditions herein contained and, subject to paragraph 1(c), agrees to
     devote substantially all of his time, attention and efforts during normal
     business hours to promote and further the business and interests of the
     Company and its affiliates.

          (b)  Executive shall faithfully adhere to, execute and fulfill all
     lawful policies established by the Company.

          (c)  Executive shall not, during the term of his employment hereunder,
     engage in any other business activity pursued for gain, profit or other
     pecuniary advantage if such activity interferes in any material respect
     with Executive's duties and responsibilities hereunder. The foregoing
     limitations shall not be construed as prohibiting Executive from making
     personal investments in such form or manner as will neither require his
     services in the operation or affairs of the companies or enterprises in
     which such investments are made nor violate the terms of paragraph 3
     hereof.

     2.   Compensation. For all services rendered by Executive, the Company
shall compensate Executive as follows:

          (a)  Base Salary. The base salary payable to Executive during the term
     of his employment hereunder, commencing on the Start Date, shall be
     $140,000 per year, payable in accordance with the Company's payroll
     procedures for executives, but not less frequently than monthly. Such base
     salary may be increased from time to time, at the discretion of the Board
     of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), in light of the

<PAGE>

     Executive's position, responsibilities and performance, and, as increased
     from time to time, may not be reduced.

          (b)  Company Stock. Effective on the Start Date, the Company shall
     grant to Executive 2,500 shares of common stock of the Company ("Company
     Stock"), subject to the following terms:

               (i)    Executive shall not be immediately vested in any of the
          shares of the Company Stock;

               (ii)   Executive shall vest in 100% of the shares of Company
          Stock (the "Nonvested Shares") on the anniversary of the Start Date as
          long as Executive continues to be an employee of the Company, subject
          to the further provisions of this Agreement;

               (iii)  Executive shall become automatically 100% vested in the
          Nonvested Shares immediately prior to a "Change in Control" of the
          Company, as such term is defined in the Conrad Industries, Inc. 2002
          Stock Plan (a "Change in Control");

               (iv)   prior to becoming vested, the Nonvested Shares may not be
          transferred (except by will or the laws of descent and distribution),
          pledged or encumbered in any manner by Executive;

               (v)    all distributions made by the Company with respect to the
          Nonvested Shares (cash, stock or other property), and any shares
          issued upon a stock split or stock dividend or by the Company in
          exchange for the Nonvested Shares shall be subject to the same
          restrictions applicable to the Nonvested Shares as set forth in this
          Agreement; and

               (vi)   the Company may place such legends on the certificate for
          the Nonvested Shares evidencing the restrictions provided herein as it
          deems appropriate.

          (c)  Options. On the Start Date, the Company will grant Executive
     options pursuant to the Conrad Industries, Inc. 2002 Stock Plan (the
     "Plan") to purchase 25,000 shares of Company Stock, which options shall
     vest in three equal annual installments on the first, second and third
     anniversary of the Start Date, with an exercise price equal to the fair
     market value of the Company Stock on the grant date, and having other terms
     and conditions substantially similar to options granted to other executive
     officers of the Company. The options shall be incentive stock options for
     the maximum number that shall qualify as incentive stock options, and the
     balance shall be nonqualified stock options. In the event of a Change in
     Control, all such options automatically shall become fully vested
     immediately prior to such Change in Control (or such earlier time as set by
     the Board or committee administering the Plan).

          (d)  Bonus. Executive shall be eligible to participate in any
     executive bonus programs maintained by the Company.

                                       2

<PAGE>

          (e)  Executive Perquisites, Benefits and Other Compensation. Executive
     shall be entitled to receive additional benefits and compensation from the
     Company in such form and to such extent as specified below:

               (i)    Executive shall be entitled to an automobile allowance of
          $525 per month. The Company will reimburse Executive for all fuel and
          maintenance and will provide Executive with automobile insurance;

               (ii)   Executive shall be promptly reimbursed for all business
          travel and other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by
          Executive in the performance of his duties pursuant to this Agreement
          and in accordance with the Company's policy for executives of the
          Company. All such expenses shall be appropriately documented in
          reasonable detail by Executive upon submission of any request for
          reimbursement, and in a format and manner consistent with the
          Company's expense reporting policy;

               (iii)  Executive shall, subject to the satisfaction of any
          general eligibility criteria, be eligible to participate in all
          compensation and benefit plans and programs as are maintained from
          time to time for executives of the Company. Employee benefit plans
          maintained by the Company as of the Effective Date are listed on
          Appendix B attached hereto. The Company undertakes no obligation to
          continue any such plans in effect. If Executive is ineligible to
          participate in the Company's health insurance program, the Company
          shall provide Executive with health insurance similar to the Company's
          program as may be from time to time in effect;

               (iv)   Executive shall be entitled to vacation in accordance with
          the Company's policy; and

               (v)    the Company shall provide Executive with such other
          perquisites as may be deemed appropriate for Executive by the Board.

     3.   Non-Competition Agreement.

          (a)  Executive recognizes that the Company's willingness to enter into
     this Agreement is based in material part on Executive's agreement to the
     provisions of this paragraph 3 and that Executive's breach of the
     provisions of this paragraph 3 could materially damage the Company. Subject
     to the further provisions of this Agreement, Executive will not, during the
     term of his employment with the Company, and for a period of one year
     immediately following the termination of such employment for any reason
     whatsoever, except as may be set forth herein, directly or indirectly:

               (i)    carry on or engage in any business in direct competition
          with the construction, conversion or repair of marine vessels or the
          fabrication of modular components for offshore drilling rigs or
          floating production, storage and offloading vessels (collectively, the
          "Businesses") of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company
          (collectively, the "Companies") in any State of the United States or
          other jurisdiction, or specified portions thereof, in which the

                                       3

<PAGE>

          Executive regularly (a) makes contact with customers of the Company or
          any of its subsidiaries, (b) conducts the business of the Company or
          any of its subsidiaries or (c) supervises the activities of other
          employees of the Company or its subsidiaries, as identified in
          Appendix "A" attached hereto and forming a part of this Agreement, so
          long as the Company or any of its subsidiaries carries on any of the
          Businesses therein (collectively the "Territory");

               (ii)   call upon any person who is, at that time, an employee of
          any of the Companies for the purpose or with the intent of enticing
          such employee away from or out of the employ of any of the Companies;

               (iii)  call upon any customer of any of the Companies within the
          Territory for the purpose of soliciting or selling products or
          services in direct competition with any of the Companies within the
          Territory;

               (iv)   call upon any prospective acquisition candidate, on
          Executive's own behalf or on behalf of any competitor, which candidate
          was, to Executive's knowledge after due inquiry, either called upon by
          any of the Companies or for which any of the Companies made an
          acquisition analysis, for the purpose of acquiring such entity; or

               (v)    disclose customers, whether in existence or proposed, of
          any of the Companies to any person, firm, partnership, corporation or
          business for any reason or purpose whatsoever except to the extent
          that any of the Companies has in the past disclosed such information
          to the public for valid business reasons.

          Notwithstanding the above, the foregoing covenant shall not be deemed
     to prohibit Executive from acquiring as in investment (i) not more than 1%
     of the capital stock of a competing business, whose stock is traded on a
     national securities exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or similar market or
     (ii) not more than 5% of the capital stock of a competing business whose
     stock is not publicly traded unless the Board consents to such acquisition.

          Executive agrees that he will from time to time upon the Company's
     request promptly execute any supplement, amendment, restatement or
     modification of Appendix "A" as may be necessary or appropriate to
     correctly reflect the jurisdictions which, at the time of such
     modification, should be covered by Appendix "A" and this Paragraph 3.
     Furthermore, Executive agrees that all references to Appendix "A" in this
     Agreement shall be deemed to refer to Appendix "A" as so supplemented,
     amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

          (b)  Because of the difficulty of measuring economic losses to the
     Company as a result of a breach of the foregoing covenant, and because of
     the immediate and irreparable damage that could be caused to the Company
     for which it would have no other adequate remedy, Executive agrees that the
     foregoing covenant may be enforced by the Company, in the event of breach
     by him, by injunctions and restraining orders.

                                       4

<PAGE>

     Executive further agrees to waive any requirement for the Company's
     securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedies.

          (c)  It is agreed by the parties that the foregoing covenants in this
     Paragraph 3 impose a reasonable restraint on Executive in light of the
     activities and business of the Companies on the date of the execution of
     this Agreement and the current plans of the Companies.

          (d)  It is further agreed by the parties hereto that, in the event
     that Executive shall cease to be employed by the Company and shall enter
     into a business or pursue other activities not in competition with the
     Businesses of the Companies or similar activities or businesses in
     locations the operation of which, under such circumstances, does not
     violate clause (a)(i) of this paragraph 3, and in any event such new
     business, activities or location are not in violation of this paragraph 3
     or of Executive's obligations under this paragraph 3, if any, Executive
     shall not be chargeable with a violation of this paragraph 3 if the
     Companies shall thereafter enter the same, similar or a competitive (i)
     business, (ii) course of activities or (iii) location, as applicable.

          (e)  The covenants in this paragraph 3 are severable and separate, and
     the enforceability of any specific covenant shall not affect the provisions
     of any other covenant. Moreover, in the event any court of competent
     jurisdiction shall determine that the scope, time or territorial
     restrictions set forth are unenforceable, then it is the intention of the
     parties that such restrictions be enforced to the fullest extent permitted
     by law, and the Agreement shall thereby be reformed.

          (f)  All of the covenants in this Paragraph 3 shall be construed as an
     agreement independent of any other provision in this Agreement, and the
     existence of any claim or cause of action of Executive against the Company,
     whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a
     defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants.

          (g)  The Company and Executive hereby agree that this covenant is a
     material and substantial part of this Agreement.

          (h)  Executive acknowledges that the payments provided under paragraph
     4(d), (relating to termination without Cause or termination for Good
     Reason) are conditioned upon Executive fulfilling the noncompetition and
     nondisclosure provisions of this Agreement. In addition, such payments are
     conditioned upon Executive refraining, for a one-year period after
     termination of employment, from carrying on or engaging in, as an employee,
     officer, director, shareholder, owner, partner, joint venturer, or in a
     managerial capacity, whether as an executive, independent contractor,
     consultant or advisor, or as a sales representative or otherwise, any
     business in direct competition with the Businesses of the Companies in the
     Territory, to the extent such activity is not prohibited by paragraph 3(a).
     In the event Executive shall at any time materially breach any
     noncompetition or nondisclosure agreements contained in this Agreement,
     including the agreements in this paragraph 3(h), the Company may cancel
     payments otherwise due under paragraph 4(d) during the period of such
     breach. Executive acknowledges that any

                                       5

<PAGE>

     such elimination of payments would be an exercise of the Company's right to
     terminate its performance hereunder upon Executive's breach of this
     Agreement and such elimination of payments would not constitute and shall
     not be characterized as the imposition of liquidated damages.

          (i)  Any dispute regarding the reasonableness of the covenants and
     agreements set forth in this paragraph 3 or the territorial scope or
     duration thereof or the remedies available to the Company upon any breach
     of such covenants and agreements, shall be governed by and interpreted in
     accordance with the laws of the State of United States or other
     jurisdiction in which the alleged prohibited competing activity or
     disclosure occurs, and with respect to each such dispute, the Company and
     Executive each hereby irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of
     the state and federal courts sitting in the relevant State (or, in the case
     of any jurisdiction outside the United States, the relevant courts of such
     jurisdiction) for resolution of such dispute, and agree to be irrevocably
     bound by any judgment rendered thereby in connection with such dispute, and
     further agree that service of process may be made upon him or it in any
     legal proceeding related to this paragraph 3 and/or Appendix "A" by any
     means allowed under the laws of such jurisdiction. Each party irrevocably
     waives any objection he or it may have as to the venue of such suit, action
     or proceeding brought in such a court or that such a court is an
     inconvenient forum. The parties agree that it is their intent and desire
     that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent
     permitted under applicable law, whether now or hereafter in effect, and
     therefore, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereto
     waive any provision of applicable law that would render any provision of
     this paragraph 3 invalid or unenforceable.

          (j)  Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph 3 to the contrary,
     nothing in this paragraph 3 shall prohibit or restrict Executive from being
     employed by one of the five largest shipyards in the United States, as long
     as Executive is not involved in any manner in any products or services
     similar to products or services provided or offered by the Companies to
     their customers, or for which any of the Companies has submitted a bid,
     within five years prior to the date of termination of employment.

     4.   Term; Termination; Rights on Termination. Executive's term of
employment under this Agreement shall begin on the Start Date and continue until
December 31, 2004 (the "Initial Term") and, unless terminated sooner as herein
provided, shall continue thereafter at Executive's and Company's mutual election
on a year-to-year basis on the same terms and conditions contained herein in
effect as of the time of renewal (the "Extended Term"); provided, however, upon
a Change in Control of the Company, the term of this Agreement shall
automatically continue following such Change in Control for a period equal to
the then remaining term or two years, whichever period is longer, unless earlier
terminated as provided in paragraph 11. This Agreement and Executive's
employment may be terminated in any one of the following ways:

          (a)  Death. The death of Executive shall immediately terminate this
     Agreement with no severance compensation due Executive's estate; provided,
     however, all Nonvested Shares, if any, shall immediately vest in full.

                                       6

<PAGE>

          (b)  Disability. If Executive becomes entitled to receive benefits
     under an insured long-term disability plan of the Company that includes its
     officers, the Company may terminate Executive's employment hereunder with
     no severance compensation due Executive; provided, however, all Nonvested
     Shares, if any, shall immediately vest in full.

          (c)  Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement and Executive's
     employment 10 days after written notice to Executive for "Cause," which
     shall be: (1) Executive's willful, material and irreparable breach of this
     Agreement (which remains uncured 10 days after receipt of written notice);
     (2) Executive's gross negligence in the performance or intentional
     nonperformance (in either case continuing for 10 days after receipt of
     written notice of need to cure) of any of Executive's material duties and
     responsibilities hereunder; (3) Executive's dishonesty or fraud with
     respect to the business, reputation or affairs of the Company which
     materially and adversely affects the Company (monetarily or otherwise); or
     (4) Executive's conviction of a felony crime involving moral turpitude. In
     the event of a termination for Cause, Executive shall have no right to any
     severance compensation.

          (d)  Without Cause. Executive may only be terminated without Cause by
     the Company during either the Initial Term or Extended Term if such
     termination is approved by at least 51% of the members of the Board. Should
     Executive be terminated by the Company without Cause or should Executive
     terminate with Good Reason, then:

               (i)    Subject to paragraph 3(h), Executive shall receive from
          the Company the equivalent of one year of base salary at the rate then
          in effect if the remaining term of the contract is one year or less,
          and two years of base salary at the rate then in effect if the
          remaining term of the contract is greater than one year, payable
          ratably over a one-year period;

               (ii)   All Nonvested Shares and any stock options immediately
          shall be vested in full, and

               (iii)  Executive shall be vested in all unvested amounts to the
          fullest extent permitted under the Company's 401(k) plan.

          Executive shall have "Good Reason" to terminate his employment
     hereunder upon the occurrence of any of the following events, unless such
     event is agreed to in writing by Executive: (a) Executive is demoted by
     means of a material reduction in authority, responsibilities or duties to a
     position of less stature or importance within the Company than the position
     described in paragraph 1(a) hereof; (b) Executive's annual base salary as
     then in effect is reduced; (c) the relocation of the Company's principal
     executive offices to a location outside the Morgan City, Louisiana area, or
     the Company's requiring Executive to relocate anywhere other than the
     Company's principal executive offices; or (d) the Company's requiring
     Executive to change his principal residence from the address set forth in
     paragraph 16.

                                       7

<PAGE>

     If termination of Executive's employment arises out of the Company's
failure to pay Executive on a timely basis the amounts to which he is entitled
under this Agreement or as a result of any other breach of this Agreement by the
Company, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or pursuant to the
provisions of paragraph 18 below, the Company shall pay all amounts and damages
to which Executive may be entitled as a result of such breach, including
interest thereon and all reasonable legal fees and expenses and other costs
incurred by Executive to enforce his rights hereunder. Further, none of the
provisions of paragraph 3 shall apply in the event this Agreement is terminated
as a result of a breach by the Company.

     Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason provided above, in
addition to the above payments, if any, Executive shall be entitled to receive
all compensation earned and all benefits and reimbursements due through the
effective date of termination, paid to Executive in a lump sum on the effective
date. All other rights and obligations of the Company and Executive under this
Agreement shall cease as of the effective date of termination, except that the
Executive's obligations under paragraphs 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 herein shall survive
such termination in accordance with their terms.

     5.   Return of Company Property. All records, designs, patents, business
plans, financial statements, manuals, memoranda, lists, and other property
delivered to or compiled by Executive by or on behalf of the Company or any of
the Companies or their representatives, vendors or customers which pertain to
the business of the Company or any of the Companies, shall be and remain the
property of the Company or the Companies, as the case may be, and be subject at
all times to their discretion and control. Likewise, all correspondence,
reports, records, charts, advertising materials, and other similar data
pertaining to the business, activities or future plans of the Company of the
Companies which is collected by Executive, shall be delivered promptly to the
Company without request by it upon termination of Executive's employment.

     6.   Inventions. Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and
all significant conceptions and ideas for inventions, improvements and valuable
discoveries, whether patentable or not, which are conceived or made by
Executive, solely or jointly with another, during the period of employment or
within one year thereafter, if conceived during employment, and which are
directly related to the business or activities of the Company and which
Executive conceives as a result of his employment by the Company. Executive
hereby assigns and agrees to assign all his interests therein to the Company or
its nominee. Whenever requested to do so by the Company, Executive shall execute
any and all applications, assignments or other instruments that the Company
shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain Letters Patent of the United States
or any foreign country or to otherwise protect the Company's interest therein.

     7.   Trade Secrets. Executive agrees that he will not, during or after the
term of this Agreement, disclose the specific terms of the Company's
relationships or agreements with their respective significant vendors or
customers or any other significant and material trade secret of the Company,
whether in existence or proposed, to any person, firm, partnership, corporation
or business for any reason or purpose whatsoever.

                                       8

<PAGE>

     8.   Confidentiality.

          (a)  Executive acknowledges and agrees that all Confidential
     Information (as defined below) of the Company is confidential and a
     valuable, special and unique asset of the Company that gives the Company an
     advantage over its actual and potential, current and future competitors.
     Executive further acknowledges and agrees that Executive owes the Company a
     fiduciary duty to preserve and protect all Confidential Information from
     unauthorized disclosure or unauthorized use, that certain Confidential
     Information constitutes "trade secrets" under applicable laws, and that
     unauthorized disclosure or unauthorized use of the Company's Confidential
     Information would irreparably injure the Company.

          (b)  Both during the term of Executive's employment and after the
     termination of Executive's employment for any reason (including wrongful
     termination), Executive shall hold all Confidential Information in strict
     confidence, and shall not use any Confidential Information except for the
     benefit of the Company, in accordance with the duties assigned to
     Executive. Executive shall not, at any time (either during or after the
     term of Executive's employment), disclose any Confidential Information to
     any person or entity (except other employees of the Company who have a need
     to know the information in connection with the performance of their
     employment duties), or copy, reproduce, modify, decompile or reverse
     engineer any Confidential Information, or remove any Confidential
     Information from the Company's premises, without the prior written consent
     of the Chairman of the Company, or permit any other person to do so.
     Executive shall take reasonable precautions to protect the physical
     security of all documents and other material containing Confidential
     Information (regardless of the medium on which the Confidential Information
     is stored). This Agreement applies to all Confidential Information, whether
     now known or later to become known to Executive.

          (c)  Upon the termination of Executive's employment with the Company
     for any reason, and upon request of the Company at any other time,
     Executive shall promptly surrender and deliver to the Company all documents
     and other written material of any nature containing or pertaining to any
     Confidential Information and shall not retain any such document or other
     material. Within five days of any such request, Executive shall certify to
     the Company in writing that all such materials have been returned.

          (d)  As used in this Agreement, the term "Confidential Information"
     shall mean any information or material known to or used by or for the
     Company (whether or not owned or developed by the Companies and whether or
     not developed by Executive) that is not generally known to persons in the
     Business. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, the
     following: all trade secrets of the Companies; all information that the
     Companies have marked as confidential or have otherwise described to
     Executive (either in writing or orally) as confidential; all nonpublic
     information concerning the Companies' products, services, prospective
     products or services, research, product designs, prices, discounts, costs,
     marketing plans, marketing techniques, market studies, test data,
     customers, customer lists and records, suppliers and contracts; all
     business records and plans; all personnel files; all financial information
     of or concerning the Companies; all information relating to operating
     system software, application

                                       9

<PAGE>

     software, software and system methodology, hardware platforms, technical
     information, inventions, computer programs and listings, source codes,
     object codes, copyrights and other intellectual property; all technical
     specifications; any proprietary information belonging to the Companies; all
     computer hardware or software manuals; all training or instruction manuals;
     and all data and all computer system passwords and user codes.

     9.   No Prior Agreements. Executive hereby represents and warrants to the
Company that the execution of this Agreement by Executive, his employment by the
Company and the performance of his duties hereunder will not violate or be a
breach of any agreement with a former employer, client or any other person or
entity. Further, Executive agrees to indemnify the Company for any claim,
including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses of
investigation, for any such third party that such third party may now have or
may hereafter come to have against the Company based upon or arising out of any
non-competition agreement, invention or secrecy agreement between Executive and
such third party which was in existence as of the date of this Agreement.

     10.  Assignment; Binding Effect. Executive understands that he has been
selected for employment by the Company on the basis of his personal
qualifications, experience and skills. Executive agrees, therefore, that he
cannot assign all or any portion of his performance under this Agreement. The
Company will require any successor, by agreement in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform
this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would
be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Subject to the
preceding, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal
representatives, successors and assigns.

     11.  Change in Control.

          (a)  In the event a Change in Control is initiated or occurs during
     the Initial Term or Extended Term, then the provisions of this paragraph 11
     shall be applicable.

          (b)  If, on or within two years following the effective date of a
     Change in Control, the Company terminates Executive's employment other than
     for Cause or Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, or if
     Executive's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company within
     six months before the effective date of a Change in Control and it is
     reasonably demonstrated by Executive that such termination (i) was at the
     request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to
     effect a Change in Control, or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or
     in anticipation of a Change in Control, then Executive shall receive from
     Company:

               (i)    in a lump sum payment due on the later of the effective
          date of Executive's termination or the Change in Control, as the case
          may be, the equivalent of three times the sum of (A) Executive's base
          salary at the rate in effect on Executive's termination date, plus (B)
          the last bonus received by Executive during the twelve months
          preceding the Change in Control; and

                                       10

<PAGE>

               (ii)   all options granted pursuant to paragraph 2(c)
          automatically shall become fully vested immediately prior to the
          Change in Control (or such earlier time as set by the Board or
          committee administering the Plan).

          (c)  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, a
     termination pursuant to paragraph 11(b) shall operate to automatically
     waive in full the noncompetition restrictions imposed on Executive pursuant
     to paragraph 3(a).

          (d)  If it shall be determined that any payment made or benefit (a
     "Payment") provided to Executive, whether or not made or provided pursuant
     to this Agreement and whether or not upon a Change in Control as defined
     herein, is subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor thereto, the
     Company shall pay Executive an amount of cash (the "Additional Amount")
     such that the net after-tax benefit received by Executive after paying all
     applicable taxes on such Payment and the Additional Amount shall be equal
     to the net after-tax amount that Executive would have received with respect
     to the Payment if Section 4999 had not been applicable.

     12.  No Mitigation or Offset. Executive shall not be required to mitigate
the amount of any Company payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking
other employment or otherwise. The amount of any payment required to be paid to
Executive by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall not be reduced by any
amounts that are owed to the Company by Executive, or by any setoff,
counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action.

     13.  Release. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Executive shall not be entitled to receive any payments pursuant to this
Agreement unless Executive has executed a general release of all claims
Executive may have against the Company and its affiliates in a form of such
release reasonably acceptable to the Company and such release has become final.

     14.  Indemnification. In the event Executive is made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by the Company
against Executive), by reason of the fact that he is or was performing services
under this Agreement, then the Company shall indemnify Executive against all
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement, as actually and reasonably incurred by Executive in connection
therewith. In the event that both Executive and the Company are made a party to
the same third-party action, complaint, suit or proceeding, the Company agrees
to engage competent legal representation, and Executive agrees to use the same
representation, provided that if counsel selected by the Company shall have a
conflict of interest that prevents such counsel from representing Executive,
Executive may engage separate counsel and the Company shall pay all reasonable
attorneys' fees and reasonable expenses of such separate counsel. Further, while
Executive is expected at all times to use his best efforts to faithfully
discharge his duties under this Agreement, Executive cannot be held liable to
the Company for errors or omissions made in good faith where Executive has not
exhibited gross, willful and wanton negligence and misconduct nor performed
criminal and fraudulent acts which materially damage the business of the
Company.

                                       11

<PAGE>

     15.  Complete Agreement. Executive has no oral representations,
understandings or agreements with the Company or any of its officers, directors
or representatives covering the same subject matter as this Agreement. This
written Agreement is the final, complete an exclusive statement and expression
of the agreement between the Company and Executive and of all the terms of this
Agreement, and it cannot be varied, contradicted or supplemented by evidence of
any prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements. This written Agreement
may not be later modified except by a further writing signed by a duly
authorized officer of the Company and Executive, and no term of this Agreement
may be waived except by writing signed by the party waiving the benefit of such
term. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, either party's failure
to insist on strict compliance with this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver
thereof.

     16.  Notice. Whenever any notice is required hereunder, it shall be given
in writing addressed as follows:

       To the Company:   Conrad Industries, Inc.
                         150 Front St.
                         P. O. Box 790
                         Morgan City, Louisiana 70381
                         Attn: Kenneth G. ("Jerry") Myers, Jr.

       To Executive:     Lewis J. Derbes, Jr.
                         4513 Senac Drive
                         Metairie, LA 70003

Notice shall be deemed given and effective on the earlier of three days after
the deposit in the U.S. mail of a writing addressed as above and sent first
class mail, certified, return receipt requested, or when actually received.
Either party may change the address for notice by notifying the other party of
such change in accordance with this paragraph 16.

     17.  Severability; Headings. If any portion of this Agreement is held
invalid or inoperative, the other portions of this Agreement shall be deemed
valid and operative and, so far as is reasonable and possible, effect shall be
given to the intent manifested by the portion held invalid or inoperative. The
paragraph headings herein are for reference purposes only and are not intended
in any way to describe, interpret, define or limit the extent or intent of the
Agreement or of any part hereof.

     18.  Dispute Resolutions. Except with respect to injunctive relief as
provided in paragraph 3(b), neither party shall institute a proceeding in any
court or administrative agency to resolve a dispute between the parties before
that party has sought to resolve the dispute through direct negotiation with the
other party. If the dispute is not resolved within two weeks after a demand for
direct negotiation, the parties shall attempt to resolve the dispute through
mediation. If the parties do not promptly agree on a mediator, the parties shall
request the Association of Attorney Mediators in Louisiana (or similar
association) to appoint a mediator. If the mediator is unable to facilitate a
settlement of the dispute within a reasonable period of time, as determined by
the mediator, the mediator shall issue a written statement to the parties to
that effect and any unresolved dispute or controversy arising under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be

                                       12

<PAGE>

settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel of three
arbitrators in Morgan City, Louisiana in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association then in effect. The arbitrators shall have the
authority to order back-pay, severance compensation, vesting of options (or cash
compensation in lieu of vesting options), reimbursement of costs, including
those incurred to enforce this Agreement, and interest thereon in the event the
arbitrators determine that Executive was terminated without disability or Cause,
as defined in paragraphs 4(b) and 4(c), respectively, or that the Company has
otherwise materially breached this Agreement. A decision by a majority of the
arbitration panel shall be final and binding. Judgment may be entered on the
arbitrators' award in any court having jurisdiction. The costs and expenses,
including reasonable attorneys' fees of the prevailing party in any dispute
arising under this Agreement, will be promptly paid by the other party.

     19.  Governing Law. This Agreement shall in all respects be construed
according to the laws of the State of Louisiana without regard to its conflicts
of law provisions, except as expressly provided in paragraph 3(i) above with
respect to the resolution of disputes arising under, or the Company's
enforcement of, paragraph 3 of this Agreement.

     20.  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which
together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

                                       13

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
effective for all purposes as of the Effective Date.

                                      CONRAD INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                      By:  /s/ Kenneth G. Myers, Jr.
                                           -------------------------
                                           Kenneth G. Myers, Jr.
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                                      EXECUTIVE

                                      /s/ Lewis J. Derbes, Jr.
                                      ------------------------
                                      Lewis J. Derbes, Jr.

                                       14

<PAGE>

                                         [Appendix A - Territorial Restrictions]

                                    [Appendix B - List of Company Benefit Plans]

                                       15

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