Dear Southwest Customers,

We are deeply saddened to share with you that our President and CEO, Martin DeCamp, passed away yesterday morning after suffering sudden cardiac arrest. We have conveyed our deepest sympathy and condolences to the DeCamp family and are providing assistance and support to help them.

Martin started with Southwest in 2013, first as our CFO then as President and CEO.  He led us through two difficult downturns in the market, and played a major role in creating the industry leading company we are today.  Martin originated our company slogan “Faster, Safer, Better,” and he lived it daily and instilled it our employees.  He also drove our focus on the highest in customer service and ethical business standards–and the safety of, and respect for, our employees.  Martin was genuinely and deeply committed to and cared about the entire Southwest community.

Martin was devoted to Southwest employees and nothing made him happier than seeing a member of the Southwest team move forward in the company through determination, hard work, and training. Martin was also equally committed to delivering exceptional service to our customers; he was always knowledgeable as to a customer’s priorities, circumstances, and concerns and made every effort to see to it that Southwest was responsive to their needs.

While Martin is no longer with us, the values he helped instill will continue to be with us now and forever. We are fortunate that Martin and his team built a deep bench of talent at the company, and we will work hard together to overcome this loss.

Former President and CEO Read Boles, who has remained as an advisor to the Board of Directors since departing from his executive roles, has agreed to assist Southwest during this transition.  Read will work with the Board and existing management team to lead the company for an interim period. Southwest is very grateful for Read’s willingness to help.

Please keep the DeCamp family in your prayers during this most difficult time.

Sincerely,

Southwest Shipyard LP

Board of Directors