AVONDALE INDUSTRIES INC
10-Q, 1997-11-12
SHIP & BOAT BUILDING & REPAIRING
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                                      FORM 10-Q
                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D. C.  20549

                      Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)
                        of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

             (Mark One)

             [ X ]  Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                 the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

             For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1997

             [   ] Transition  Report  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                 the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

             For the transition period from               to

             For Quarter Ended September 30, 1997

             Commission File Number  0-16572

                              AVONDALE INDUSTRIES, INC.


                 Louisiana                             39-1097012

             (State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer
             incorporation or organization)         Identification No.)


             P. O. Box 50280, New Orleans, Louisiana       70150
             (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)

             Registrant's  telephone number, including area code 504/436-
             2121

             Indicate by check  mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
             all reports required  to  be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of
             the Securities Exchange Act  of 1934 during the preceding 12
             months (or for such shorter period  that  the registrant was
             required to file such reports), and (2) has  been subject to
             file  such  filing requirements for the past 90  days.
             YES  X     NO        .

             Indicate the  number  of  shares  outstanding of each of the
             issuer's  classes  of  common  stock  as   of   the   latest
             practicable date.

                     Class              Outstanding at September 30, 1997
             Common stock, par
              value $1.00 per share       14,493,211  shares
<PAGE>
                      AVONDALE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                        INDEX


             Page No.

             Part I. Financial Information

                 Item 1.  Financial Statements

                     Independent Accountants' Report   

                     Consolidated Balance Sheets -
                     September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996   

                     Consolidated Statements of Operations -
                     Quarters  and  Nine  Months Ended September 30, 1997
                     and 1996
                     
                     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
                     Nine Months Ended September 30, 1997 and 1996   

                     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   

                 Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                          Financial Condition and Results of Operations 

             Part II. Other Information
             
                 Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K


<PAGE>
                 INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' REPORT

                 To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
                   Avondale Industries, Inc.

                 We  have reviewed the condensed  consolidated  financial
                 statements    of    Avondale    Industries,   Inc.   and
                 subsidiaries, as listed in the accompanying index, as of
                 September  30,  1997 and for the three-month  and  nine-
                 month periods ended  September 30, 1997 and 1996.  These
                 financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of  the
                 Company's management.

                 We conducted our review  in  accordance  with  standards
                 established  by  the  American  Institute  of  Certified
                 Public  Accountants.   A  review  of  interim  financial
                 information  consists principally of applying analytical
                 procedures to  financial data and of making inquiries of
                 persons  responsible   for   financial   and  accounting
                 matters.   It  is  substantially less in scope  than  an
                 audit conducted in accordance  with  generally  accepted
                 auditing  standards,  the  objective  of  which  is  the
                 expression   of   an  opinion  regarding  the  financial
                 statements taken as  a  whole.   Accordingly,  we do not
                 express such an opinion.

                 Based  on  our  review, we are not aware of any material
                 modifications that  should  be  made  to  such condensed
                 consolidated  financial  statements for them  to  be  in
                 conformity    with   generally    accepted    accounting
                 principles.

                 We have previously audited, in accordance with generally
                 accepted auditing  standards,  the  consolidated balance
                 sheet of Avondale Industries, Inc. and  subsidiaries  as
                 of  December  31,  1996,  and  the  related consolidated
                 statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash
                 flows  for  the year then ended (not presented  herein);
                 and in our report  dated February 17, 1997, we expressed
                 an unqualified opinion  on  those consolidated financial
                 statements.  In our opinion,  the  information set forth
                 in  the accompanying consolidated balance  sheet  as  of
                 December  31,  1996  is  fairly  stated, in all material
                 respects, in relation to the consolidated  balance sheet
                 from which it has been derived.




                 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

                 New Orleans, Louisiana
                 November 4, 1997

<PAGE>
                 PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

             Item 1. Financial Statements
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              AVONDALE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                   (In thousands, except share data)
                                               (UNAUDITED)


                                                  September 30,    December 31,
                                                      1997             1996
                                                      ----             ----
             <S>                                    <C>            <C>
             ASSETS
             Current Assets:
              Cash and cash equivalents.........    $  66,142      $  48,944
              Receivables (Note 2):
               Accounts receivable..............       11,623         14,133
               Contracts in progress............       98,041        105,006
              Inventories:
               Goods held for sale..............       14,717         13,184
               Materials and supplies...........        7,590          8,601
              Deferred tax assets...............       17,962         30,157
              Prepaid expenses..................        3,977          2,465
                                                      -------        -------
               Total current assets.............      220,052        222,490
                                                      -------        -------

             Property, Plant and Equipment:
              Land..............................        7,890          7,984
              Construction in progress..........        6,820          6,934
              Buildings and improvements........       55,014         52,664
              Machinery and equipment...........      188,767        187,029
                                                      -------        -------
               Total ...........................      258,491        254,611

              Less accumulated depreciation.....     (133,454)      (127,009)
                                                      -------        -------
               Property, plant and
                 equipment - net................      125,037        127,602
                                                      -------        -------

             Goodwill - net.....................        5,456          8,073
             Other assets.......................        3,980          4,707
                                                      -------        -------
               Total assets.....................    $ 354,525      $ 362,872
                                                      =======        =======

             See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              AVONDALE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                        CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                     (In thousands, except share data)
                                                 (UNAUDITED)


                                                  September 30,    December 31,
                                                      1997             1996
                                                      ----             ----     
             <S>                                    <C>            <C>
             LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
             Current Liabilities:
              Current portion of long-term debt.    $   3,047      $   4,957
              Accounts payable .................       44,591         73,589
              Accrued employee compensation ....       17,185         11,919
              Other ............................       15,445         12,550
                                                      -------        ------- 
               Total current liabilities........       80,268        103,015

             Long-term debt.....................       51,819         54,866

             Deferred income taxes..............        7,011         10,300

             Other liabilities and
              deferred credits..................       13,692         12,838
                                                      -------        -------
              Total liabilities.................      152,790        181,019
                                                      -------        -------
             Commitments and contingencies (Note 4)

             Shareholders' Equity:
              Common stock, $1.00 par value,
               authorized 30,000,000 shares;
               issued - 15,956,227 shares in 1997
               and 15,927,191 shares in 1996....       15,956         15,927
             Additional paid-in capital.........      374,173        373,911
             Accumulated deficit ...............     (176,538)      (196,129)
                                                      -------        -------
             Total..............................      213,591        193,709
                                                   
             Treasury stock (common: 1,463,016
              shares in 1997 and 1996) at cost..     ( 11,856)      ( 11,856)
                                                      -------        -------
             Total shareholders' equity.........      201,735        181,853
                                                      -------        -------
             Total..............................    $ 354,525      $ 362,872
                                                      =======        =======
 
             See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              AVONDALE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                (In thousands, except per share data)
                                             (UNAUDITED)



                                         Quarters               Nine Months
                                   Ended September 30,      Ended September 30, 
                                    1997        1996         1997        1996
                                    ----        ----         ----        ---- 
         <S>                     <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>

         Net sales...........    $ 159,217   $ 148,384    $ 444,522   $ 457,457

         Cost of sales.......      139,547     129,336      386,718     402,957
                                   -------     -------      -------     ------- 
         Gross profit........       19,670      19,048       57,804      54,500

         Selling, general and
          administrative expenses    8,720       9,811       25,689      28,136
                                   -------     -------      -------     ------- 
         Income from operations     10,950       9,237       32,115      26,364

         Interest expense....      ( 1,235)    ( 1,144)     ( 3,647)    ( 3,792)

         Other - net.........          905         719        2,223       2,066
                                   -------     -------      -------     -------
         Income before
          income taxes.......       10,620       8,812       30,691      24,638

         Income tax
          provision (Note 5).      ( 3,700)    ( 3,200)     (11,100)         -
                                   -------     -------      -------     -------
         Net income..........    $   6,920   $   5,612    $  19,591   $  24,638
                                   =======     =======      =======     =======

         Net income per share of
          common stock (Note 6)  $    0.48   $    0.39    $    1.35   $    1.70
                                   =======     =======      =======     ======= 

        Weighted average number
         of shares outstanding      14,493      14,464       14,493      14,464
                                   =======     =======      =======     ======= 

        See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               AVONDALE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                              NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND 1996
                                              (In thousands)
                                                (UNAUDITED)


                                                          1997          1996   
                                                         ------        ------ 
             <S>                                        <C>         <C>
             CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
              Net income............................    $  19,591   $  24,638
              Adjustments to reconcile net income
               to net cash provided by operating
               activities:
               Depreciation and amortization........        8,558       8,063
               Deferred income taxes................       11,100          -
               Changes in operating assets
                and liabilities:
                Receivables.........................        9,475       4,577
                Inventories.........................         (522)     (3,397)
                Prepaid expenses and other assets...         (785)     (1,256)
                Accounts payable....................      (28,998)     (4,179)
                Accrued employee compensation
                 and other liabilities..............        9,015       1,932
                Other - net.........................          403        (168)
                                                          -------     -------
              Net Cash Provided by
               Operating Activities.................       27,837      30,210 
                                                          -------     -------
 
             CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
              Capital expenditures..................       (5,686)    (11,179)
              Proceeds from sale of assets..........            4         455
              Other - net...........................          -           383
                                                          -------     ------- 
              Net Cash Used for Investing Activities       (5,682)    (10,341)
                                                          -------     -------
             CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
              Payment of long-term borrowings.......       (4,957)     (5,832)
                                                          -------     -------
              Net Cash Used for Financing Activities       (4,957)     (5,832)
                                                          -------     -------
             Net increase in cash and cash equivalents     17,198      14,037
             Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
              of period.............................       48,944      38,524
                                                          -------     -------
             Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $  66,142   $  52,561
                                                          =======     ======= 

             Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
             Cash paid during the period for:
             Interest................................   $   3,509   $   3,536
                                                          =======     =======

             Income taxes...........................    $   1,200   $   1,560
                                                          =======     =======

             See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

             AVONDALE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

             1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

             The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements
             include  the accounts of  Avondale  Industries, Inc. and its
             wholly-owned  subsidiaries  ("Avondale"  or  the "Company").
             In the opinion of management of the Company, all adjustments
             (such  adjustments  consisting  only  of  a normal recurring
             nature) necessary for a fair presentation  of the  operating
             results for the interim periods presented have been included
             in  the  interim   financial   statements.    These  interim
             financial statements should be  read   in  conjunction  with
             the  December  31, 1996  audited  financial  statements  and
             related   notes   filed  on   Form  10-K  for the year ended
             December 31, 1996 (the "1996 Form 10-K").

             The   financial   statements   required  by  Rule 10-01   of
             Regulation  S-X  have been  reviewed  by independent  public
             accountants as stated in their report included herein.

             Certain  reclassifications of  prior year  amounts have been
             made to  conform to the current  year  presentation.   These
             reclassifications  were  made  for comparative purposes only
             and have no effect on net income as previously reported.

             2.  RECEIVABLES

             The   following   information   presents   the  elements  of
             receivables at September 30, 1997 and December  31, 1996 (in
             thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            1997         1996  
                                                         ---------    ---------
              <S>                                        <C>           <C>     
              Long-term contracts:
               U.S. Government:
                Amounts billed.......................    $     483     $     859
                Unbilled costs, including retentions,
                 and estimated profits on contracts
                 in progress.........................       84,236        90,325
                                                         ---------     ---------
                    Total............................       84,719        91,184

               Commercial:
                Amounts billed.......................        3,399         7,274
                Unbilled costs, including retentions,
                 and estimated profits on contracts
                 in progress ........................       13,805        14,681
                                                         ---------     ---------
               Total from long-term contracts........      101,923       113,139
              Trade and other current receivables....        7,741         6,000
                                                         ---------     ---------
              Total..................................    $ 109,664     $ 119,139
                                                         =========     =========
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
             Unbilled   costs  and  estimated  profits  on  contracts  in
             progress were not billable to customers at the balance sheet
             dates under terms of the respective contracts.


             3.  FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

             The  Company  maintains a revolving  credit agreement  ("the
             agreement")  to  provide  available  liquidity  for  working
             capital  purposes,   capital  expenditures  and  letters  of 
             credit.   Upon  the  completion  by  the  Foundation  of its 
             financing for the Center (as discussed in Note 4 below), the
             agreement  was  reduced by its terms from $85 million to $50
             million.  The agreement expires in April 2000.  At September
             30,  1997,   there   were  approximately  $11.3  million  of
             letters   of  credit  issued  against  the agreement leaving
             approximately  $38.7  million  of  liquidity   available  to
             Avondale for operations and other purposes.  There have been
             no  borrowings  in 1997 under  the  agreement.    Continuing
             access  to  the  agreement  is  conditioned upon the Company
             remaining  in  compliance  with the covenants  which include
             certain  financial  ratios.   The Company  is  currently  in
             compliance  with  the  covenants contained therein.

             In October 1997, the Company and its bank group amended  the
             revolving  credit  agreement  to  increase  the  size of the
             facility  to  $65  million, release all collateral including
             its second mortgage  on  the  Company's 900-foot drydock and
             grant  the  Company  additional  flexibility  to  repurchase
             shares if authorized by the Board of Directors.

             4.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

             Litigation

             As discussed in Note 10 of the Company's  Annual  Report  in
             the  1996 Form 10-K, the Company was advised in 1986 that it
             was a  potentially responsible party ("PRP") with respect to
             an oil reclamation  site operated by an unaffiliated company
             in Walker, Louisiana.   To  date, the Company and certain of
             the  other PRPs (the "Funding  Group")  for  the  site  have
             funded  the  site's remediation expenses, PRP identification
             expenses and related  costs  for  the participating parties.
             As of September 30, 1997 such costs  totaled  $18.8 million,
             of which the Company has funded approximately $4.0  million.
             Since 1988, the Funding Group has filed petitions to  add  a
             number of companies as third-party defendants with regard to
             the  remedial  action  and  has  agreed  to  settle with the
             majority  of  these companies.  All funds collected  through
             these  settlements   have   been  escrowed  to  fund  future
             expenses.  At September 30, 1997,  the balance of the escrow
             was $8.0 million, which is to be used  to  fund  any ongoing
             remediation  expenses.  The Company will not owe any  future
             assessments  until   the  balance  in  escrow  is  depleted.
             Additional settlements are being negotiated which may add to
             the balance in escrow.
<PAGE>
             Additional remedial work  scheduled  for  the  site includes
             completion  of  studies  and, if required by the results  of
             these studies, subsequent remediation.  Following completion
             of  any such required additional  remediation,  it  will  be
             necessary to obtain Environmental Protection Agency approval
             to close  the  site,  which  consent  may require subsequent
             post-closure activities such as groundwater  monitoring  and
             site maintenance for many years.  The Company is not able to
             estimate  the  final  costs for any such additional remedial
             work or post-closure costs  that  may  be required; however,
             the  Company  believes  that  its  proportionate   share  of
             expenditures  for  any  additional  work  will  not  have  a
             material   adverse  impact  on  the  Company's  consolidated
             financial statements.   In  addition,  the  members  of  the
             Funding  Group  have  entered  into  a  final  cost  sharing
             agreement  under  which  all  parties have agreed that there
             would be no re-allocation of previous remediation costs, but
             that  future remediation costs would  be  established  by  a
             formula.   Under  this  agreement,  the  Company's  share of
             future costs is 17.5%.

             The Company has initiated litigation against its insurer for
             a declaration of coverage of the liability, if any, that may
             arise  in  connection  with  the  remediation  of  the  site
             referred  to above. The court has ruled that the insurer has
             the duty to  defend  the  Company,  but has not yet ruled on
             whether the carrier has a duty to indemnify  the  Company if
             any  liability  is  ultimately  assessed  against  it. After
             consultation with counsel, the Company is unable to  predict
             the  eventual  outcome  of this litigation or the degree  to
             which such potential liability  would  be indemnified by its
             insurance carrier.

             In addition to the above, the Company is  also  named  as  a
             defendant in numerous other lawsuits and proceedings arising
             in  the  ordinary  course of business, some of which involve
             substantial damage claims.

             The  Company has established  accruals  as  appropriate  for
             certain  of the matters discussed above.  While the ultimate
             outcome of  lawsuits  and  proceedings  against  the Company
             cannot  be  predicted  with  certainty, management believes,
             based on current facts and circumstances  and  after  review
             with  counsel, that the eventual resolution of these matters
             will not  have  a  material  adverse effect on the Company's
             consolidated financial statements.

             Letters of Credit

             In the normal course of its business activities, the Company
             is  required to provide letters  of  credit  to  secure  the
             payment   of   workers'   compensation   obligations,  other
             insurance obligations and to provide a debt  service reserve
             fund  related  to  $36.3  million  of Series 1994 industrial
             revenue  bonds. Outstanding letters of  credit  relating  to
             these business  activities  amounted  to approximately $11.3
             million at September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996.
<PAGE>
             Guarantee

             Pursuant  to  agreements  related to the University  of  New
             Orleans  ("UNO")/Avondale  Maritime   Technology  Center  of
             Excellence  ("the  Center"),  the  Company   has  agreed  to
             guarantee indebtedness with a principal amount not to exceed
             $40 million expected to be incurred by the UNO  Research and
             Technology   Foundation,   Inc.   (the   "Foundation")   for
             construction   of   the  facility  and  the  acquisition  of
             technology.  Under  the  terms  of  a  Cooperative  Endeavor
             Agreement,  the  State   of  Louisiana  made  a  non-binding
             commitment to appropriate  $40  million,  plus  interest, in
             installments  over  a  period  from  1997  through 2008  for
             donation  to  the  Foundation  for  purposes of funding  the
             Center.   Avondale  and  the  Foundation   anticipate   that
             appropriations  by  the  State will  be  sufficient  for the
             Foundation to service its debt.  However,  if   the  State's
             appropriations  are insufficient, Avondale  will  ultimately
             be  required to repay the debt.   The Company's guarantee is
             unsecured.   As  of September 30, 1997, the  Foundation  had
             incurred $12.4 million  of  cost  to construct and equip the
             Center.

             5.  INCOME TAXES

             The Company provides for income taxes  based  on the maximum
             statutory  rate  for  U.S.  corporations.  The provision  in
             1996, however, was offset by  certain adjustments related to
             deferred income taxes.  During  the  second quarter of 1996,
             the  deferred  tax  valuation  allowance decreased  by  $9.0
             million  based  on  current  evaluations  of  the  Company's
             expectations of the likelihood of future taxable income that
             would permit the utilization of its net operating loss carry
             forwards.   The $9.0 million for  1996  was  recorded  as  a
             reduction of  income tax expense.  Such benefit in the prior
             year  recognized   for   financial  reporting  purposes  the
             availability of net operating  loss carry forwards to offset
             estimated future earnings.  During 1997, no such benefit was
             recorded.

             6.  RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

             In February 1997, the Financial  Accounting  Standards Board
             ("FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting  Standards
             Number  128  "Earnings per Share" ("SFAS 128") which changes
             the method of  calculating earnings per share ("EPS").  SFAS
             128 requires the  presentation  of "basic" EPS and "diluted"
             EPS  on  the  face  of  the statement  of  operations.   The
             statement is effective for  financial statements for periods
             ending after December 15, 1997.  The Company will adopt SFAS
             128 in the fourth quarter of  1997, as early adoption is not
             permitted.  Had the provisions of SFAS 128 been in effect as
             of September 30, 1997, basic EPS  and diluted EPS would have
             been  equivalent  to  EPS  as  reported   in  the  Company's
             Consolidated Statements of Operations for 1997  and  1996 as
             presented herein.
<PAGE>
             In  June  1997,  the  FASB  issued  Statement  of  Financial
             Accounting   Standards  No.  130,  "Reporting  Comprehensive
             Income" ("SFAS 130").  SFAS 130 requires that all items that
             are required to  be recognized under accounting standards as
             components  of  comprehensive   income   be  reported  in  a
             financial  statement  that  is  displayed  with   the   same
             prominence  as  other financial statements.  The Company has
             not determined the  impact  that  the  adoption  of this new
             accounting standard will have on its consolidated  financial
             statements.  The Company will adopt this accounting standard
             January 1, 1998, as required.
<PAGE>
             Item 2: Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of Financial
                     Condition and Results of Operations

             The following discussion should be read in conjunction  with
             the  Company's  unaudited  consolidated financial statements
             for  the  periods ended September  30,  1997  and  1996  and
             Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
             and Results of  Operations  included  under  Item  7  of the
             Company's  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K for the year ended
             December 31, 1996 (the "1996 Form 10-K").

             Overview

             The  Company  continued  its  trend  of improvement  in  its
             operating results compared to the same  periods in the prior
             year.  Income from operations increased by 19% for the third
             quarter of 1997 and by 22% for the first nine months of 1997
             compared  to the same periods in the prior  year.   Further,
             income before  income  taxes  increased  21%  for  the third
             quarter  of  1997 and 25% for the first nine months of  1997
             over the same periods in 1996.

             The Company's  firm  backlog  at  September  30,  1997,  was
             approximately  $1.8  billion  (including  estimated contract
             escalation)  exclusive  of  unexercised options  aggregating
             $1.9 billion for additional ship  orders.   During the first
             nine  months of 1997, the Company delivered a  MHC-51  Class
             Coastal  Minehunter to the Navy, representing the fourth and
             final Minehunter  constructed  by the Company, and the final
             three  vessels  in  a contract to retrofit  four  commercial
             tankers with double-hulled  forebodies.  The  LSD-CV 52, the
             last  of  four  LSD-CVs constructed under two contracts,  is
             scheduled to be completed during the fourth quarter of 1997.

             As previously disclosed,  in  December  1996  a  Company-led
             alliance, which includes Bath Iron Works ("Bath") and Hughes
             Aircraft  Company,  was  awarded a $641 million contract  to
             design and construct the first  of  an  anticipated 12 ships
             under  the  Navy's  LPD-17  program.   The  contract   award
             provides  for  options  exercisable  by  the  Navy  for  two
             additional  LPD-17 ships to be built by the alliance.  Under
             the terms of  an agreement between the alliance members, the
             Company will build  the ship covered under the December 1996
             contract, and, if the  Navy  exercises  the two options, the
             Company  would  construct  the  second  while   Bath   would
             construct  the  third  of the three LPD-17 ships to be built
             under the initial contract.   Work  on  the detail design of
             the LPD-17 is currently underway.

             In June 1997, the Company announced that  it  signed  a $332
             million  contract  for  the  construction of two 125,000 DWT
             crude oil carriers for the Jones  Act trade to be built with
             double hulls in compliance with the  Oil  Pollution  Act  of
             1990.  The contract also provides options exercisable by the
             customer  for  three additional ships.  Detail design of the
             ships has begun  with  construction  scheduled  to  start in
             December  of  1997.  Delivery of the first ship is scheduled
             for the first quarter of 2000.
<PAGE>
             Results of Operations

             The Company recorded  net  income  of $6.9 million, or $0.48
             per share, for the third quarter of  1997  compared  to $5.6
             million, or $0.39 per share, for the third quarter of  1996.
             For the first nine months of 1997, the Company recorded  net
             income  of  $19.6  million,  or $1.35 per share, compared to
             $24.6 million, or $1.70 per share  for  the  same  period in
             1996.  Net income for the first nine months of 1996 included
             an  income tax benefit of $9.0 million, or $0.62 per  share,
             which  recognized,  for  financial  reporting  purposes, the
             benefit   of  certain  net  operating  loss  carry  forwards
             available to  offset  estimated future earnings.  No similar
             benefit was recorded in 1997.

             Income from operations for the quarter and nine months ended
             September 30, 1997 increased  by  $1.7  million, or 19%, and
             $5.8 million, or 22%, respectively, compared  to  the  prior
             year  periods.   The Company's operating income in the third
             quarter and first  nine  months  of  1997  primarily reflect
             operating profits recognized on the contracts  to  construct
             five Strategic Sealift vessels, the Icebreaker and the  LSD-
             CV 52.  Profit recognition did not begin until September  of
             1996  for the Sealift and January of 1997 for the Icebreaker
             as contract  progress  was  not  sufficient  to begin profit
             recognition until that time.  Also contributing  to the 1997
             operating  results  were  profits  recorded by the Company's
             marine   repair,   wholesale   steel   and   modular   steel
             construction operations.

             These  profits were offset, in part, by losses  recorded  on
             two commercial  marine  construction  contracts.  During the
             first   and  third  quarters  of  1997,  Avondale   recorded
             additional   losses   of  $2.5  million  and  $1.8  million,
             respectively, on the contract to retrofit four single-hulled
             commercial tankers with  new double-hulls (the last of which
             was delivered in September  1997).   Also,  during the third
             quarter  of  1997,  the Company recorded an additional  $1.5
             million  loss  on the contract  to  construct  river  hopper
             barges (the last  of  which  is  expected to be completed in
             November   1997).   The  losses  resulted   primarily   from
             increases in  the  estimated  labor needed to complete these
             contracts.

             Net  sales for the third quarter  of  1997  increased  $10.8
             million, or 7%, to $159.2 million compared to $148.4 million
             for the  third  quarter  of 1996.  The increase in net sales
             for the third quarter of 1997  is  primarily  a result of an
             increase  in  production activity on contracts currently  in
             progress.   In  the  third  quarter  of  1997,  the  Company
             recorded increased  net  sales on the contracts to construct
             the five Strategic Sealift Ships, the LPD-17, the Icebreaker
             and  the  two  double-hulled   crude  oil  carriers.   These
             increases  were  partially offset  by  decreased  net  sales
             recorded on the contracts  to  construct  the  four  double-
             hulled product tankers, the seven T-AOs, the LSD-CV 52,  the
             four MHCs, the three LSD-CVs and the river hopper barges.
<PAGE>
             Net  sales  for  the  nine  months ended September 30, 1997,
             decreased $12.9 million, or 3%,  to  $444.5 million compared
             to $457.5 million for the same period  in  the  prior  year.
             The  decrease in net sales for the first nine months of 1997
             is due  primarily  to  a  reduction  in  production activity
             associated  with  contracts that are at or near  completion.
             The Company recorded decreased net sales on the contracts to
             construct the four  doubled-hulled product tankers (the last
             of which was delivered  in  September 1997), the seven T-AOs
             (the last of which was delivered  in January 1997), the LSD-
             CV 52 (expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of
             1997), the three LSD-CVs (the last of which was delivered in
             May 1996) and the river hopper barges  (the last of which is
             expected to be completed in November 1997).  These decreases
             were  offset  by increased net sales recorded  on  contracts
             currently in progress as noted in the preceding paragraph.

             Gross profit for  the third quarter and first nine months of
             1997 increased $622,000,  or  3%,  and  $3.3 million, or 6%,
             respectively,  compared to the same periods  in  1996.   The
             increases are due  primarily  to  profits  recognized on the
             contracts to construct the five Strategic Sealift  ships and
             the  Icebreaker.  These incremental profits were offset,  in
             part, by the losses discussed above.

             Selling,   general   and  administrative  ("SG&A")  expenses
             decreased $1.1 million, or 11%, in the third quarter of 1997
             and $2.4 million, or 9%,  for  the first nine months of 1997
             compared  to  the  same  periods in  the  prior  year.   The
             decrease in SG&A expenses was due primarily to a decrease in
             proposal preparation costs  recorded  in  1996 in connection
             with the preparation of the successful LPD-17 proposal.

             In February 1997, the Financial Accounting  Standards  Board
             ("FASB")  issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
             Number 128  "Earnings  per Share" ("SFAS 128") which changes
             the method of calculating  earnings per share ("EPS").  SFAS
             128 requires the presentation  of  "basic" EPS and "diluted"
             EPS  on  the  face  of  the  statement of  operations.   The
             statement is effective for financial  statements for periods
             ending after December 15, 1997.  The Company will adopt SFAS
             128 in the fourth quarter of 1997, as early  adoption is not
             permitted.  Had the provisions of SFAS 128 been in effect as
             of September 30, 1997, basic EPS and diluted EPS  would have
             been   equivalent  to  EPS  as  reported  in  the  Company's
             Consolidated  Statements  of Operations for 1997 and 1996 as
             presented elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

             In  June  1997,  the  FASB  issued  Statement  of  Financial
             Accounting  Standards  No.  130,   "Reporting  Comprehensive
             Income" ("SFAS 130").  The Company has  not  determined  the
             impact  that  the  adoption  of this new accounting standard
             will  have on its consolidated  financial  statements.   The
             Company will adopt this accounting standard January 1, 1998,
             as required.   Refer  to Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated
             Financial Statements, contained elsewhere in this Form 10-Q,
             for a discussion of SFAS 130.
<PAGE>
             Liquidity and Capital Resources

             The  Company's  cash  and  cash  equivalents  totaled  $66.1
             million at September 30,  1997  as compared to $48.9 million
             at  December 31, 1996.  The Company's  operations  generated
             approximately  $27.8  million  of  cash  for the nine months
             ended  September  30, 1997.  The Company's primary  uses  of
             cash in the current  year  consisted of capital expenditures
             of $5.7 million and payments on long-term borrowings of $5.0
             million.

             The  Company  maintains  a revolving credit  agreement ("the
             agreement")  to  provide  available  liquidity  for  working
             capital  purposes,   capital  expenditures  and  letters  of
             credit.   Upon  the  completion  by  the  Foundation  of its
             financing for the Center (as discussed below), the agreement
             was  reduced by  its terms from $85 million  to $50 million.
             The  agreement  expires  in  April 2000.  At  September  30,
             1997,  there were approximately  $11.3  million  of  letters
             of credit issued against the agreement leaving approximately
             $38.7  million   of   liquidity  available  to Avondale  for
             operations   and   other   purposes.  There   have  been  no
             borrowings under the agreement since its inception in  1994.
             Continuing  access  to  the agreement  is  conditioned  upon
             the  Company  remaining in compliance  with  the   covenants
             which  include  certain  financial  ratios.  The Company  is
             currently   in  compliance   with  the  covenants  contained
             therein.  The Company believes that  its  capital  resources
             will  be   sufficient  to  finance   current  and  projected
             operations.

             In October 1997, the Company and  its bank group amended the
             revolving  credit  agreement to increase  the  size  of  the
             facility to $65 million,  release  all  collateral including
             its  second mortgage on the Company's 900-foot  drydock  and
             grant  the  Company  additional  flexibility  to  repurchase
             shares if authorized by the Board of Directors.
<PAGE>
             In  order  to  comply with the terms of the LPD-17 contract,
             the  Company  was   required  to  make  significant  capital
             improvements, including  enhancing its computer-aided design
             and product modeling capabilities.  As a result, the Company
             teamed with the University  of New Orleans (the "University"
             or  "UNO"),  the  University of  New  Orleans  Research  and
             Technology Foundation,  Inc.  (the  "Foundation"),  and  the
             State of Louisiana in a cooperative effort.  Pursuant to the
             terms  of  various  agreements, the Foundation is purchasing
             hardware and software  required  to  implement the extensive
             three-dimensional  ship design and Integrated  Product  Data
             Environment teaming technology and is constructing a 200,000
             square foot building  on property, donated to the University
             by the Company, adjacent to the Company's main shipyard. The
             initial  investment in this  new  technology  and  facility,
             which will be known as the "UNO/Avondale Maritime Technology
             Center of  Excellence"  (the  "Center"), is estimated at $40
             million and is being financed by the Foundation using third-
             party debt and lease financing  both of which are guaranteed
             by  the Company. The Company has entered  into  a  long-term
             lease  for  the  Center  requiring  a  nominal  annual lease
             payment.  The Company will provide access to the  technology
             and a portion of the Center to the University for its use in
             research   and  the  development  of  educational  curricula
             related to naval architecture and marine engineering.

             The Foundation  is  the nominal borrower on all indebtedness
             incurred to construct and equip the Center.  Under the terms
             of a Cooperative Endeavor  Agreement, the State of Louisiana
             made a non-binding commitment  to  appropriate  $40 million,
             plus  interest,  in  installments  over  a period from  1997
             through 2008 for donation to the Foundation  for purposes of
             funding the Center.  Avondale and the Foundation  anticipate
             that   appropriations   by   the   State  will be sufficient
             for  the  Foundation  to  service its debt.  However, if the
             State's   appropriations  are  insufficient,  Avondale  will
             ultimately  be  required  to  repay the debt.  The Company's
             guarantee  is  unsecured.   As  of  September  30, 1997, the
             Foundation  had incurred $12.4 million of cost to  construct
             and equip  the Center.  Also, as of September 30, 1997,  the
             State had appropriated and paid  $3.8  million, representing
             the  first  installment  to the Foundation, pursuant to  the
             terms of the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement.

<PAGE>
             *Cautionary   Statement   for  Purposes  of   "Safe  Harbor"
             Provisions  of the Private  Securities Litigation Reform Act
             of 1995

             Certain  statements,  other  than  statements  of historical
             fact,  contained in this Quarterly Report on Form  10-Q  are
             forward-looking   statements   as  defined  in  the  Private
             Securities Litigation Reform Act  of  1995.   These forward-
             looking statements are generally accompanied by  such  terms
             and   phrases   as  "anticipates,"  "estimates,"  "expects,"
             "believes," "should,"  "projects"  or "scheduled" or similar
             statements.   Although   the  Company  believes   that   the
             expectations reflected in  such  forward-looking  statements
             are   reasonable,   it  can  give  no  assurance  that  such
             expectations will prove  to  have  been  correct.  Important
             factors  that  could cause the Company's results  to  differ
             materially from  the  results  discussed  in  such  forward-
             looking  statements  include the Company's reliance on  U.S.
             Navy contracts, profit  recognition on government contracts,
             the  importance  of  obtaining   commercial  contracts,  the
             Company's ability to complete its  contracts within its cost
             estimates, intense competition for government and commercial
             contracts,  and labor, regulatory and  other  risks  in  the
             shipbuilding   and   marine  construction  industries.   All
             forward-looking statements  in  this Form 10-Q are expressly
             qualified in their entirety by the  cautionary statements in
             this paragraph.

<PAGE>
                             PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


             Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

                  (a) Exhibits

                      3.1  Articles of Incorporation of the Company(1).

                      3.2  Bylaws of the Company, as amended on August 4,
                           1997.

                       15  Letter  re:    unaudited  interim    financial
                           information.

                       27  Financial Data Schedule

                  (b) Reports on Form 8-K:

                           Not applicable.

             _______________

                (1)        Incorporated  by  reference from the Company's
                           Quarterly  Report  on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
                           quarter ended June 30, 1993.


<PAGE>
             SIGNATURES



             Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
             of 1934, the  registrant  has  duly caused this report to be
             signed  on  its  behalf  by the undersigned  thereunto  duly
             authorized.



                                              AVONDALE INDUSTRIES, INC.


             Date:  November 12, 1997       By:/s/ ALBERT L. BOSSIER, JR.
                    -----------------          --------------------------
                                               Albert L. Bossier, Jr.
                                               Chairman, President &
                                                Chief Executive Officer




             Date:  November 12, 1997       By:/s/ THOMAS M. KITCHEN
                    -----------------          --------------------------
                                               Thomas M. Kitchen
                                               Vice President &
                                               Chief Financial Officer
        


<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX


   Number                    Description
   ------    ---------------------------------------------------

     3.1     Articles of Incorporation of the Company(1) .

     3.2     Bylaws of the Company, as amended on August 4, 1997

      15     Letter re: unaudited interim financial information.

      27     Financial Data Schedule


             _______________

             (1) Incorporated   by    reference   from    the  Company's
                 Quarterly  Report  on  Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
                 ended June 30, 1993.
<PAGE>



                                       BY-LAWS
                                          OF
                              AVONDALE INDUSTRIES, INC.
                            (as adopted on March 20, 1990)
                 (Section 3.1 of which was amended on June 13, 1994,
                   Section 5.2 of which was amended and Section 5.4
                      of which was deleted on December 5, 1994,
                Section 2.14 of which was added on July 17, 1995, and
                  Section 12 of which was amended on August 4, 1997)

                                      SECTION I

                                       OFFICES

               1.1  Principal   Office.  The   principal   office   of  the
          Corporation  shall  be  located  at  5100  River  Road, Avondale,
          Louisiana 70094.

               1.2  Additional  offices.  The  Corporation  may  have  such
          offices at such other places as the Board of Directors  may  from
          time  to  time  determine  or the business of the Corporation may
          require.

                                      SECTION 2

                                SHAREHOLDERS MEETINGS

               2.1  Place of Meetings.  Unless otherwise required by law or
          these By-laws, all meetings  of the shareholders shall be held at
          the principal office of the Corporation  or  at such other place,
          within or without the State of Louisiana, as may be designated by
          the Board of Directors.

               2.2  Annual Meetings; Notice Thereof.  An  annual meeting of
          the shareholders shall be held on the fourth Monday  of  April in
          each year, at 10:00 a.m., or at such other date or at such  other
          time specified as the Board of Directors shall designate, for the
          purpose  of  electing  directors  and for the transaction of such
          other business as may be properly brought  before the meeting. If
          no annual shareholders' meeting is held for  a period of eighteen
          months, any shareholder may call such meeting  to  be held at the
          registered office of the Corporation as shown on the  records  of
          the Secretary of State of Louisiana.
<PAGE>
               2.3  Special   Meetings.  Special  meetings  of  the  share-
          holders, for any purpose  or  purposes,  may  be  called  by  the
          Chairman  of  the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President or
          the Board of Directors.  At any time, upon the written request of
          any shareholder or group of shareholders holding in the aggregate
          at least 80% of the Total  Voting  Power  (such  term to have the
          same  meaning in these By-laws as is assigned in Article  III  of
          the Articles  of  Incorporation),  the  Secretary  shall  call  a
          special  meeting  of  shareholders  to  be held at the registered
          office of the Corporation at such time as  the Secretary may fix,
          not less than fifteen nor more than sixty days  after the receipt
          of said request, and if the Secretary shall neglect  or refuse to
          fix  such  time or to give notice of the meeting, the shareholder
          or shareholders  making  the request may do so. Such request must
          state the specific purpose  or  purposes  of the proposed special
          meeting and the business to be conducted thereat shall be limited
          to such purpose or purposes.

               2.4  Notice  of Meetings.  Except as otherwise  provided  by
          law, the authorized  person  or  persons  calling a shareholders'
          meeting shall cause written notice of the time, place and purpose
          of the meeting to be given to all shareholders  entitled  to vote
          at  such meeting, at least ten days and not more than sixty  days
          prior  to  the  day  fixed  for the meeting. Notice of the annual
          meeting need not state the purpose  or  purposes  thereof, unless
          action  is  to  be  taken  at  the meeting as to which notice  is
          required by law or the By-laws. Notice of a special meeting shall
          state the purpose or purposes thereof, and the business conducted
          at  any  special  meeting shall be  limited  to  the  purpose  or
          purposes stated in the notice.

               2.5  List   of   Shareholders.  At    every    meeting    of
          shareholders,  a  list of shareholders entitled to vote, arranged
          alphabetically and  certified by the Secretary or by the agent of
          the Corporation having charge of transfers of shares, showing the
          number and class of shares  held  by each such shareholder on the
          record date for the meeting, shall  be produced on the request of
          any shareholder.

               2.6  Quorum.  At all meetings of  shareholders,  the holders
          of a majority of the Total Voting Power shall constitute a quorum
          provided  that  this  subsection  shall  not  have the effect  of
          reducing the vote required to approve or affirm  any  matter that
          may be established by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these
          By-laws.

               2.7  Voting.  When  a quorum is present at any meeting,  the
          vote of the holders of a majority of the Voting Power (as defined
          in  Article  III of the Articles  of  Incorporation)  present  in
          person or represented by proxy shall decide each question brought
          before such meeting,  unless  the  question is one upon which, by
          express  provision  of law or the Articles  of  Incorporation,  a
          different vote is required,  in which case such express provision
          shall govern and control the decision of such question. Directors
          shall be elected by plurality vote.
<PAGE>
               2.8  Proxies.  At any meeting  of  the  shareholders,  every
          shareholder having the right to vote shall be entitled to vote in
          person  or  by  proxy  appointed  by  an  instrument  in  writing
          subscribed  by such shareholder and bearing a date not more  than
          eleven  months  prior  to  the  meeting,  unless  the  instrument
          provides  for  a  long period, but in no case will an outstanding
          proxy be valid for  longer  than three years from the date of its
          execution, provided that in no  event  may  a proxy be voted at a
          meeting called pursuant to La. R.S. 12:138 unless  it is executed
          and dated by the shareholder within 30 days of the date  of  such
          meeting.  The person appointed as proxy need not be a shareholder
          of the Corporation.

               2.9  Adjournments.  Adjournments  of  any  annual or special
          meeting  of  shareholders may be taken without new  notice  being
          given unless a  new  record  date  is  fixed  for  the  adjourned
          meeting,  but  any  meeting  at which directors are to be elected
          shall be adjourned only from day  to  day  until  such  directors
          shall have been elected.

               2.10 Withdrawal.  If a quorum is present or represented at a
          duly  organized meeting, such meeting may continue to do business
          until  adjournment,  notwithstanding  the  withdrawal  of  enough
          shareholders  to leave less than a quorum as fixed in Section 2.6
          of these By-laws,  or  the refusal of any shareholders present to
          vote.

               2.11 Lack  of Quorum.  If  a  meeting  cannot  be  organized
          because a quorum  has not attended, those present may adjourn the
          meeting to such time  and  place  as they may determine, subject,
          however, to the provisions of Section 2.9 hereof.  In the case of
          any  meeting  called for the election  of  directors,  those  who
          attend the second  of such adjourned meetings, although less than
          a  quorum as fixed in  Section  2.6  hereof,  shall  nevertheless
          constitute a quorum for the purpose of electing directors.

               2.12 Presiding  officer.  The  Chairman  of the Board, Chief
          Executive  Officer  and President or in his absence,  a  chairman
          designated  by the Board  of  Directors,  shall  preside  at  all
          shareholders' meetings.

               2.13 Definition  of  Shareholder.  As used in these By-laws,
          and unless the context otherwise  requires,  the term shareholder
          shall mean a person who is (i) the record holder of shares of the
          Corporation's  voting stock or (ii) a registered  holder  of  any
          bonds, debentures or similar obligations granted voting rights by
          the Corporation pursuant to La. R.S. 12:75A.
<PAGE>
               2.14 Shareholder  Proposals.  No  shareholder proposal shall
          be  considered  by  the  shareholders at any  annual  or  special
          meeting unless such proposal  has  been  properly  brought before
          such  meeting.  No shareholder proposal shall be deemed  to  have
          been properly  brought  before  a special meeting of shareholders
          unless (i) the proposal is submitted  by  the  person  or persons
          calling the special meeting and (ii) the proposal is contained in
          the  notice  of  the  meeting.  No shareholder proposal shall  be
          deemed to have been properly  brought  before  an  annual meeting
          unless each of the following conditions is satisfied:

                    (a) Sufficient notice of the proposal must  be received
               by the Secretary of the Corporation not less than  120  days
               in  advance of the date in the current year that corresponds
               to the  date  on  which proxy materials were first mailed by
               the  Corporation in  connection  with  the  previous  year's
               annual  meeting.   In the event of the change of the date of
               the annual meeting to  a  date  that  is  30 days earlier or
               later than the date in the current year that  corresponds to
               the  date  on  which  the  annual  meeting  was held in  the
               previous  year,  or  if  no annual meeting was held  in  the
               previous year, sufficient  notice  of  the  proposal must be
               received by the Secretary of the Corporation  no  later than
               the date set by the Corporation in a public announcement  to
               shareholders,   which  date  shall  be  no  earlier  than  a
               reasonable time before  the Corporation's proxy solicitation
               is first made in connection with the meeting.  Notice of the
               proposal  will be sufficient  only  if  it  contains  (i)  a
               complete and  accurate  description  of the proposal; (ii) a
               statement that the shareholder intends to attend the meeting
               and present the proposal and to hold of record securities of
               the Corporation entitled to vote at the  meeting through the
               meeting date; and (iii) the shareholder's  name  and address
               and  the  number  of  shares  of  the  Corporation's  voting
               securities   that   the   shareholder  holds  of  record  or
               beneficially as of the notice  date.   The shareholder shall
               continue  to  hold of record securities of  the  Corporation
               entitled to vote at the meeting through the meeting date.

                    (b) The Board  of  Directors  shall  have  the power to
               limit  the  shareholder  proposals  to  be considered  at  a
               meeting to the first ten shareholder proposals  of which the
               Secretary of the Corporation receives sufficient notice.

                    (c)  If  the Secretary of the Corporation has  received
               sufficient  notice   of  a  shareholder  proposal  that  may
               properly  be  brought  before  the  meeting,  a  shareholder
               proposal sufficient notice of which is subsequently received
               by the Secretary and that  is  substantially  duplicative of
               the first proposal shall not be properly brought  before the
               meeting.  If a shareholder proposal deals with substantially
               the  same  subject  matter as a prior proposal submitted  to
               shareholders at a meeting  held  within  the  preceding five
               calendar years, it shall not be properly brought  before any
               meeting  held  within three calendar years after the  latest
               such previous submission, provided that:
<PAGE>
                    (i)       if  the  proposal  was submitted at
                              only   one   meeting  during   such
                              preceding period,  it received less
                              than  3%  of  the total  number  of
                              votes cast in regard thereto; or

                    (ii)      if the proposal  was  submitted  at
                              only   two   meetings  during  such
                              preceding period,  it  received  at
                              the  time  of its second submission
                              less than 6% of the total number of
                              votes cast in regard thereto; or

                    (iii)     if the proposal  was  submitted  at
                              three  or more meetings during such
                              preceding  period,  it  received at
                              the  time  of its latest submission
                              less than 10%  of  the total number
                              of votes cast in regard thereto.

                    (d) Notwithstanding compliance  with  Sections 2.14(a),
               (b), and (c), no shareholder proposal shall  be deemed to be
               properly brought before a shareholders' meeting if it is not
               a proper subject for action by shareholders under  Louisiana
               law or the Articles of Incorporation.

                    (e)  Any  proposal  failing  to  comply  with  Sections
               2.14(a),  (b),  (c),  or (d) shall not be considered at  the
               meeting and, if introduced  at  the  meeting, shall be ruled
               out of order.  If a shareholder presents  a  proposal  at  a
               meeting  but  does not continue to hold of record securities
               of the Corporation  entitled  to vote at the meeting through
               the  meeting  date,  as  required  by  Section  2.14(a),  no
               proposal  by  that shareholder shall be  considered  at  any
               shareholders' meeting  held  in  the  following two calendar
               years.

                    (f) Nothing in this Section 2.14 is  intended to confer
               any rights to have any proposal included in  the  notice  of
               any meeting or in proxy materials related to such meeting.
<PAGE>
                                      SECTION 3

                                      DIRECTORS

               3.1  Number.  All  of  the  corporate powers shall be vested
          in,  and the business and affairs of  the  Corporation  shall  be
          managed  by,  a Board of Directors.  Except as otherwise fixed by
          or pursuant to  Article  III of the Articles of Incorporation (as
          it may be duly amended from  time to time) relating to the rights
          of  the  holders  of  any  class or  series  of  stock  having  a
          preference  over  the  Common  Stock  as  to  dividends  or  upon
          liquidation to elect, by class vote,  additional  directors under
          particular circumstances, the Board of Directors shall consist of
          not  less than seven and not more than nine natural  persons,  as
          established  from  time  to  time by a resolution of the Board of
          Directors provided that, if after proxy materials for any meeting
          of shareholders at which directors  are  to be elected are mailed
          to  shareholders  any  person  or  persons named  therein  to  be
          nominated  at  the direction of the Board  of  Directors  becomes
          unable or unwilling  to serve, the foregoing number of authorized
          directors as provided  by  the  Board  resolution  then in effect
          shall be automatically reduced by a number equal to the number of
          such persons unless the Board of Directors, by a majority vote of
          the  entire Board, selects an additional nominee.  The  Board  of
          Directors  may,  by  a two-thirds vote, amend this Section 3.1 to
          increase or decrease the  number  of  directors, provided that no
          amendment  to this Section to decrease the  number  of  directors
          shall shorten  the  term  of any incumbent director.  No director
          need be a shareholder. The  Secretary  shall  have  the  power to
          certify at any time as to the number of directors authorized  and
          as  to  the  class  to  which  each  director has been elected or
          assigned.

               3.2  Powers.  The Board may exercise  all such powers of the
          Corporation and do all such lawful acts and  things which are not
          by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these  By-laws  directed
          or required to be done by the shareholders.

               3.3  Classes.  The  Board  of  Directors,  other  than those
          directors  who  may  be  elected  by the holders of any class  or
          series of stock having preference over  the  Common  Stock  as to
          dividends  or  upon  liquidation,  shall  be  divided  into three
          classes  as  nearly  equal  in number as may be, with the initial
          term of office of Class I expiring at the first annual meeting of
          shareholders  occurring  more  than   nine   months   after   the
          incorporation  of  the  Corporation,  of Class II expiring at the
          first succeeding annual meeting of shareholders  and of Class III
          expiring at the second succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.
          Any  increase  or  decrease in the number of directors  shall  be
          apportioned by the Board  of  Directors  so  that  all classes of
          directors shall be as nearly equal in number as can be.
<PAGE>
               3.4  General  Election.  At  each annual meeting  of  share-
          holders, directors shall be elected  to  succeed  those directors
          whose terms then expire. Such newly elected directors shall serve
          until  the third succeeding annual meeting of shareholders  after
          their  election  and  until  their  successors  are  elected  and
          qualified. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office
          for a term  expiring  at  the annual meeting at which the term of
          the  class  to which he shall  have  been  elected  expires.   No
          decrease in the  number  of  directors  constituting the Board of
          Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

               3.5  Vacancies.  Except  as  otherwise   provided   in   the
          Articles  of  Incorporation  or these By-laws (a) the office of a
          director shall become vacant if  he  dies,  resigns or is removed
          from office and (b) the Board of Directors may declare vacant the
          office of a director if he (i) is interdicted  or  adjudicated an
          incompetent,  (ii) is adjudicated a bankrupt, (iii) in  the  sole
          opinion  of the  Board  of  Directors  becomes  incapacitated  by
          illness or  other  infirmity  so that he is unable to perform his
          duties for a period of six months  or  longer,  or (iv) ceases at
          any time to have the qualifications required by law, the Articles
          of Incorporation or these By-laws.

               3.6  Filling Vacancies.  In the event of a vacancy  (includ-
          ing  any  vacancy  resulting  from  an increase in the authorized
          number of directors, or from failure of the shareholders to elect
          the full number of authorized directors) the remaining directors,
          even though not constituting a quorum,  may  fill  any vacancy on
          the Board for the unexpired term by a vote of at least two-thirds
          of the directors remaining in office at any time that there is no
          Related Person (as such term is defined in Article V.A.2  of  the
          Articles   of   Incorporation)  and  a  two-thirds  vote  of  all
          Continuing Directors  who remain in office at any time there is a
          Related Person, provided  that  the  shareholders  shall have the
          right,  at  any special meeting called for the purpose  prior  to
          such action by the Board, to fill the vacancy.

               3.7  Directors  Elected by Preferred Shareholders.  Notwith-
          standing anything in the  foregoing to the contrary, whenever the
          holders of any one or more  series  of  preferred  stock  of  the
          Corporation  shall  have the right, voting separately as a class,
          to elect one or more directors of the Corporation, the provisions
          of Article III of the  Articles  of  Incorporation  (as it may be
          duly amended from time to time) fixing the rights and preferences
          of  such  preferred  stock  shall  govern  with  respect  to  the
          election,  removal,  vacancies  or  other  related  matters  with
          respect to such directors.
<PAGE>
               3.8  Notice  of  Shareholder Nominees.  Only persons who are
          nominated in accordance  with  the  procedures  set forth in this
          Section 3.8 shall be eligible for election as directors.  Nomina-
          tions  of persons for election to the Board of Directors  of  the
          Corporation may be made at a meeting of shareholders by or at the
          direction  of  the  Board of Directors or by a shareholder of the
          Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors at the
          meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this
          Section 3.8. Such nominations, other than those made by or at the
          direction of the Board  of  Directors,  shall be made pursuant to
          timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation.  To
          be timely, a shareholder's notice must be delivered or mailed and
          received at the principal executive offices  of  the  Corporation
          not less than 45 days nor more than 90 days prior to the meeting;
          provided,  however,  that  in  the  event that less than 55  days
          notice or prior public disclosure of  the  date of the meeting is
          given or made to shareholders, notice by the  shareholder  to  be
          timely  must  be  received no later than the close of business on
          the 10th day following  the  day on which such notice of the date
          of the meeting was mailed or such  public  disclosure  was  made.
          Such shareholder's notice shall set forth the following:

                    a.  as to each person whom the shareholder proposes  to
               nominate  for  election or re-election as a director (i) the
               name, age, business  address  and  residence address of such
               person, (ii) the principal occupation  or employment of such
               person, (iii) the class and number of shares  of the capital
               stock  of  the  Corporation  of  which  such  person is  the
               beneficial  owner  (determined  in  accordance with  Article
               V.A.2 of the Articles of Incorporation)  and  (iv) any other
               information relating to such person that would  be  required
               to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election  of
               directors,  or  would  be  otherwise  required, in each case
               pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act
               of  1934,  as  amended  (including without  limitation  such
               person's  written  consent  to  being  named  in  the  proxy
               statement as a nominee  and  to  serving  as  a  director if
               elected); and

                    b.  as  to  the  shareholder giving the notice (i)  the
               name and address of such  shareholder  and (b) the class and
               number of shares of the capital stock of  the Corporation of
               which  such shareholder is the beneficial owner  (determined
               in  accordance   with  Article  V.A.2  of  the  Articles  of
               Incorporation) . If  requested  in  writing by the Secretary
               the Corporation at least 15 days in advance  of the meeting,
               such shareholder shall disclose to the Secretary,  within 10
               days  of  such  request,  whether  such  person  is the sole
               beneficial  owner of the shares held of record by him;  and,
               if not, the name  and  address of each other person known by
               the shareholder of record  to claim a beneficial interest in
               such shares.
<PAGE>
          At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by
          or at the direction of the Board  of  Directors for election as a
          director shall furnish to the Secretary  of  the Corporation that
          information required to be set forth in a shareholder's notice of
          nomination which pertains to the nominee. If a  shareholder seeks
          to nominate one or more persons as directors, the Secretary shall
          appoint  two  Inspectors,  who shall not be affiliated  with  the
          Corporation, to determine whether a shareholder has complied with
          this  Section  3.8.  If the Inspectors  shall  determine  that  a
          shareholder  has  not  complied   with   this  Section  3.8,  the
          Inspectors shall direct the Chairman of the meeting to declare to
          the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the
          procedures prescribed by the Articles of Incorporation  or  these
          By-laws; and the Chairman shall so declare to the meeting and the
          defective nomination shall be disregarded.

               The  provisions  of  this Section 3.8 shall not apply to the
          election of any directors which the holders of preferred stock of
          the Corporation, voting separately as a class, may be entitled to
          elect.

               3.9  Compensation of Directors.  Directors  as  such,  shall
          receive  such compensation for their services as may be fixed  by
          resolution  of  the  Board  of  Directors and shall receive their
          actual  expenses  of attendance, if  any,  for  each  regular  or
          special  meeting of  the  Board;  provided  that  nothing  herein
          contained  shall  be  construed  to  preclude  any  director from
          serving  the  Corporation  in  any  other  capacity and receiving
          compensation therefor.

                                      SECTION 4

                                MEETINGS OF THE BOARD

               4.1  Place  of  Meetings.  The  meetings  of  the  Board  of
          Directors may be held at such place within or without  the  State
          of Louisiana as a majority of the directors may from time to time
          appoint.

               4.2  Initial  Meetings.  The  first  meeting  of  each newly
          elected  Board  shall  be  held  immediately following the share-
          holders' meeting at which the Board  is  elected  and at the same
          place as such meeting, and no notice of such first  meeting shall
          be necessary for the newly elected directors in order  legally to
          constitute the meeting.

               4.3  Regular  Meetings;  Notice.  Regular  meetings  of  the
          Board  may  be  held at such times as the Board may from time  to
          time determine.   Notice  of  regular  meetings  of  the Board of
          Directors  shall  be  required, but no special form of notice  or
          time of notice shall be necessary.
<PAGE>
               4.4  Special  Meetings;  Notice.  Special  meetings  of  the
          Board may be called by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
          Officer  and  President   on  reasonable  notice  given  to  each
          director, either personally or by telephone, mail or by telegram.
          Special meetings shall be called  by  the  Chairman of the Board,
          Chief Executive Officer and President, or the  Secretary  in like
          manner and on like notice on the written request of a majority of
          the  directors and if such officers fail or refuse, or are unable
          within  24  hours  to  call  a  meeting  when requested, then the
          directors making the request may call the  meeting  on  two days'
          written  notice  given  to each director. The notice of a special
          meeting of directors need  not state its purpose or purposes, but
          if the notice states a purpose  or  purposes and does not state a
          further purpose to consider such other  business  as may properly
          come  before  the  meeting, the business to be conducted  at  the
          special meeting shall  be  limited  to the purposes stated in the
          notice.

               4.5  Waiver of Notice.  Directors  present at any regular or
          special meeting shall be deemed to have received  due, or to have
          waived, notice thereof, provided that a director who participates
          in  a meeting by telephone (as permitted by Section  4.9  hereof)
          shall  not be deemed to have received or waived due notice if, at
          the beginning  of  the  meeting, he objects to the transaction of
          any business because the meeting is not lawfully called.

               4.6  Quorum.  A majority  of the Board shall be necessary to
          constitute a quorum for the transaction  of  business, and except
          as otherwise provided by law or the Articles of  Incorporation or
          these  By-laws,  the  acts of a majority of the entire  Board  of
          Directors at a meeting  at which a quorum is present shall be the
          acts of the Board.  If a  quorum is not present at any meeting of
          the Board of Directors, the  directors  present  may  adjourn the
          meeting  from time to time without notice other than announcement
          at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

               4.7  Withdrawal.  If  a  quorum  is present when the meeting
          convened,  the  directors present may continue  to  do  business,
          taking action by  vote  of  a  majority  of  a quorum as fixed in
          Section  4.6  hereof,  until  adjournment,  notwithstanding   the
          withdrawal  of  enough  directors  to leave less than a quorum as
          fixed  in  Section  4.6  hereof or the refusal  of  any  director
          present to vote.

               4.8  Action by Consent.  Any  action which may be taken at a
          meeting of the Board or any committee  thereof, may be taken by a
          consent  in  writing signed by all of the  directors  or  by  all
          members of the  committee, as the case may be, and filed with the
          records of proceedings of the Board or Committee.

               4.9  Meetings       by       Telephone       or      Similar
          Communication.  Members of the Board may participate  at  and  be
          present  at  any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof by
          means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment
          if  all persons  participating  in  such  meeting  can  hear  and
          communicate with each other.
<PAGE>
                                      SECTION 5

                               COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

               5.1  General.  The   Board   may   designate   one  or  more
          committees,  each  committee  to  consist of two or more  of  the
          directors of the Corporation (and one  or  more  directors may be
          named as alternate members to replace any absent or  disqualified
          regular members), which, to the extent provided by resolution  of
          the  Board or the By-laws, shall have and may exercise the powers
          of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the
          Corporation,  and  may  have  power  to authorize the seal of the
          Corporation to be affixed to documents,  but  no  such  committee
          shall  have  power  or  authority  in  reference  to amending the
          Articles  of  Incorporation, adopting an agreement of  merger  or
          consolidation,  recommending  to the stockholders the sale, lease
          or  exchange of all or substantially  all  of  the  Corporation's
          property   and   assets,   recommending  to  the  stockholders  a
          dissolution of the Corporation  or  a  revocation of dissolution,
          removing or indemnifying directors or amending  the  By-laws; and
          unless  the  resolution  expressly so provides, no such committee
          shall  have  the power or authority  to  declare  a  dividend  or
          authorize issuance  of stock.  Such committee or committees shall
          have such name or names  as  may  be stated in the By-laws, or as
          may be determined, from time to time,  by the Board.  Any vacancy
          occurring in any such committee shall be filled by the Board, but
          the  President may designate another director  to  serve  on  the
          committee  pending  action  by  the  Board. Each such member of a
          committee  shall  hold  office  during  the  term  of  the  Board
          constituting it, unless otherwise ordered by the Board.

               5.2  Compensation Committee.  The Board  shall  establish  a
          Compensation Committee consisting of at least two directors.  The
          Compensation  Committee  shall  administer  the Performance Share
          Plan,  the  Stock  Appreciation Plan, any incentive  compensation
          plans involving securities  of  the  Corporation  adopted  by the
          Corporation  in  the  future  and  employment  contracts with any
          employee.   Each  of  the  members of the Compensation  Committee
          shall  be  a "disinterested person"  as  defined  in  Rule  16b-3
          promulgated  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 and an
          "outside  director"  as  defined  in the regulations  promulgated
          under  162(m)  of the Internal Revenue  Code.   The  Compensation
          Committee shall  determine  the  general compensation policies of
          the Corporation and the compensation  to  be  paid  to  executive
          officers  of  the Corporation.  If the Compensation Committee  is
          composed of an  even  number  of  persons,  in  the  event  of  a
          disagreement,  which cannot in good faith be resolved, it will be
          resolved by the  affirmative  vote  of  a  majority of the entire
          Board.
<PAGE>
               5.3  Audit Committee.  The Board shall  establish  an  Audit
          Committee  consisting  of  at  least  three directors who are not
          officers  or  employees  of  the  Corporation   or   any  of  its
          affiliates.  The Audit Committee shall (i) serve as a focal point
          for communication between noncommittee directors, the independent
          accountants,  internal  audit  and  management,  as  their duties
          relate  to  financial  accounting,  reporting and controls,  (ii)
          assist  the  Board  of  Directors  in  fulfilling  its  fiduciary
          responsibilities   as  to  accounting  policies   and   reporting
          practices  of  the  Corporation  and  all  subsidiaries  and  the
          sufficiency of auditing relative thereto and (iii) operate as the
          Board's principal agent  in  ensuring  the  independence  of  the
          Corporation's   independent   accountants,   the   integrity   of
          management and the adequacy of disclosure to shareholders.

                                      SECTION 6

                               REMOVAL OF BOARD MEMBER

               Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed
          at  any  time,  but  only  for  cause (as such term is defined in
          Article IV.C of the Articles of Incorporation),  by  the affirma-
          tive  vote  of  not  less  than  80%  of  the Total Voting Power,
          provided that the removal may only be effected  at  a  meeting of
          shareholders  duly called for that purpose.  The shareholders  at
          such meeting may  proceed  to elect a successor or successors for
          the unexpired term of the director  or directors removed.  Except
          as provided in the Articles of Incorporation  and in this Section
          6, directors shall not be subject to removal.

                                      SECTION 7

                                       NOTICES

               7.1  Form of Delivery.  Whenever under the provisions of law
          the Articles of Incorporation or these By-laws notice is required
          to  be  given  to any shareholder or director, it  shall  not  be
          construed to mean  personal  notice unless otherwise specifically
          provided in the Articles of Incorporation  or  these By-laws, but
          said  notice may be given by mail, addressed to such  shareholder
          or director  at  his  address as it appears on the records of the
          Corporation, with postage  thereon prepaid. Such notices shall be
          deemed to have been given at  the  time they are deposited in the
          United States mail. Notice to a director  pursuant to Section 4.4
          hereof may also be given personally or by telephone  or  telegram
          sent  to  his  address  as  it  appears  on  the  records  of the
          Corporation.

               7.2  Waiver.  Whenever any notice is required to be given by
          law,  the  Articles  of  Incorporation or these By-laws, a waiver
          thereof in writing signed  by  the  person or persons entitled to
          said notice, whether before or after  the  time  stated  therein,
          shall be deemed equivalent thereto.  In addition, notice shall be
          deemed  to  have been given to, or waived by, any shareholder  or
          director who  attends  a  meeting of shareholders or directors in
          person,  or is represented at  such  meeting  by  proxy,  without
          protesting  at the commencement of the meeting the transaction of
          any business  because  the  meeting  is  not  lawfully  called or
          convened.
<PAGE>
                                      SECTION 8

                                       OFFICERS

               8.1  Designations.  The officers of the corporation shall be
          chosen  by the directors and shall be the Chairman of the  Board,
          Chief Executive  officer  and President (with all such offices to
          be  held  by  one  person), a Secretary  and  a  Treasurer.   The
          directors may elect one or more Vice Presidents.  Any two offices
          may be held by one person,  provided  that no person holding more
          than  one  office  may  sign,  in  more than  one  capacity,  any
          certificate or other instrument required  by  law to be signed by
          two officers.

               8.2  Additional  Designations.  The Board of  Directors  may
          appoint such other officers as it shall deem necessary, who shall
          hold their offices for  such terms and shall exercise such powers
          and perform such duties as  shall be determined from time to time
          by the Board.

               8.3  Term of Office.  The  officers of the Corporation shall
          hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.  Except as
          otherwise provided in the resolution  of  the  Board of Directors
          electing  any officer, each officer shall hold office  until  the
          first meeting  of the Board of Directors after the annual meeting
          of shareholders  next  succeeding  his or her election, and until
          his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her
          earlier resignation or removal.  Any  officer  may  resign at any
          time  upon  written  notice to the Board, to the Chairman,  Chief
          Executive Officer and  President,  or  to  the  Secretary  of the
          Corporation.   Such  resignation  shall  take  effect at the time
          specified  therein  as  acceptance of such resignation  shall  be
          necessary to make it effective.  The Board may remove any officer
          with or without cause at any time, except that the removal of the
          Chairman  of the Board, Chief  Executive  Officer  and  President
          shall require  the  vote  of at least three-fourths of the entire
          Board.   Any  such removal shall  be  without  prejudice  to  the
          contractual rights of such offices, if any, with the Corporation,
          but the election  of an officer shall not in and of itself create
          contractual rights.   Any  vacancy occurring in any office of the
          Corporation by death, resignation,  removal  or  otherwise may be
          filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the  Board at any
          regular or special meeting.

               8.4  The  Chairman,  Chief Executive Officer, and President.
          The Chairman, Chief Executive  Officer  and  President shall have
          general  and  active  responsibility  for the management  of  the
          business of the Corporation, shall be responsible  for implement-
          ing  all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors,  shall
          be the  chief  operating  officer  of  the Corporation, and shall
          supervise   the   daily  operations  of  the  business   of   the
          Corporation.  The Chairman of the Board shall preside at meetings
          of the Board of Directors and of the shareholders.
<PAGE>
               8.5  The Vice  Presidents.  The  Vice Presidents (if any) in
          the order specified by the Board or, if  not so specified, in the
          order of their seniority shall, in the absence  or  disability of
          the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers  of the
          President,  and  shall perform such other duties as the President
          or the Board of Directors shall prescribe.

               8.6  The Secretary.  The Secretary shall attend all meetings
          of the Board of Directors  and  all  meetings of the shareholders
          and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book
          to  be kept for that purpose.  He shall  give,  or  cause  to  be
          given,  notice  of  all  meetings of the shareholders and special
          meetings of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may
          be prescribed by the Board  or President, under whose supervision
          he shall be.  He shall keep in  safe  custody  the  seal  of  the
          Corporation,  if  any,  and  affix  the  same  to  any instrument
          requiring it.

               8.7  The Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall have the custody of
          the corporate funds and shall keep or cause to be kept  full  and
          accurate   accounts   of  receipts  and  disbursements  in  books
          belonging to the Corporation  and  shall  deposit  all monies and
          other  valuable  effects  in  the name and to the credit  of  the
          Corporation in such depositories  as  may  be  designated  by the
          Board  of  Directors.   He  shall keep a proper accounting of all
          receipts and disbursements and  shall  disburse  the funds of the
          Corporation  only  for  proper corporate purposes or  as  may  be
          ordered by the Board and  shall  render  to the President and the
          Board at the regular meetings of the Board,  or whenever they may
          require it, an account of all his transactions  as  Treasurer and
          of the financial condition of the Corporation.

                                      SECTION 9

                                        STOCK

               9.1  Certificates.  Every holder of stock in the Corporation
          shall  be entitled to have a certificate signed by the  President
          or a Vice  President  and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
          evidencing the number and  class  (and  series, if any) of shares
          owned by him, containing such information  as required by law and
          bearing the seal of the Corporation. If any  stock certificate is
          manually signed by a transfer agent or registrar  other  than the
          Corporation itself or an employee of the Corporation, the  signa-
          ture of any such officer may be a facsimile. In case any officer,
          transfer  agent  or  registrar  who has signed or whose facsimile
          signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to
          be  such  officer,  transfer  agent  or   registrar  before  such
          certificate is issued, it may be issued by  the  Corporation with
          the  same  effect as if he were such officer, transfer  agent  or
          registrar at the date of issue.
<PAGE>
               9.2  Missing   Certificates.  The   President  or  any  Vice
          President  may  direct a new certificate or  certificates  to  be
          issued in place of  any  certificate  or certificates theretofore
          issued by the Corporation alleged to have  been  lost,  stolen or
          destroyed,  upon  the making of an affidavit of that fact by  the
          person claiming the  certificate  of  stock to be lost, stolen or
          destroyed.  As a condition precedent to  the  issuance  of  a new
          certificate  or  certificates,  the  officers  of the Corporation
          shall, unless dispensed with by the President, require  the owner
          of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or
          his   legal   representative,   (i)  to  advertise  or  give  the
          Corporation  a  bond  or  (ii) enter  into  a  written  indemnity
          agreement, in each case in an amount appropriate to indemnify the
          Corporation  against any claim  that  may  be  made  against  the
          Corporation with  respect to the certificate alleged to have been
          lost, stolen or destroyed.

               9.3  Transfers.  Upon  surrender  to  the Corporation or the
          transfer  agent of the Corporation, of a certificate  for  shares
          duly endorsed  or  accompanied  by proper evidence of succession,
          assignment or authority to transfer,  it shall be the duty of the
          Corporation to issue a new certificate  to  the  person  entitled
          thereto,  cancel  the  old certificate and record the transaction
          upon its books.

                                      SECTION 10

                            DETERMINATION OF SHAREHOLDERS

               10.1 Record Date.  For  the  purpose  of  determining share-
          holders  entitled  to notice of and to vote at a meeting,  or  to
          receive a dividend,  or  to  receive  or exercise subscription or
          other rights, or to participate in a reclassification  of  stock,
          or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other
          proper  purpose,  the  Board  of  Directors  may fix in advance a
          record date for determination of shareholders  for  such purpose,
          such  date to be not more than sixty days and, if fixed  for  the
          purpose  of determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to
          vote at a  meeting,  not less than ten days, prior to the date on
          which the action requiring the determination of shareholder is to
          be taken.

               10.2 Registered Shareholders.  Except  as otherwise provided
          by law, the Corporation, and its directors, officers  and  agents
          may recognize and treat a person registered on its records as the
          owner  of  shares, as the owner in fact thereof for all purposes,
          and as the person  exclusively  entitled  to have and to exercise
          all  rights  and  privileges  incident to the ownership  of  such
          shares, and rights under this Section  shall  not  be affected by
          any actual constructive notice which the Corporation,  or  any of
          its directors, officers or agents, may have to the contrary.
<PAGE>
                                      SECTION 11

                                    MISCELLANEOUS

               11.1 Dividends.  Except as otherwise provided by law or  the
          Articles  of  Incorporation,  dividends  upon  the  stock  of the
          Corporation  may  be  declared  by  the Board of Directors at any
          regular  or special meeting.  Dividends  may  be  paid  in  cash,
          property, or in shares of stock.

               11.2 Checks.  All  checks  or demands for money and notes of
          the Corporation shall be signed by  such  officer  or officers or
          such other person or persons as the Board of Directors  may  from
          time to time designate.  Signatures of the authorized signatories
          may be by facsimile.

               11.3 Fiscal  Year.  The fiscal year of this Corporation will
          be a calendar year.

               11.4 Seal.  The  Board  of  Directors  may adopt a corporate
          seal, which seal shall have inscribed thereon  the  name  of  the
          Corporation.   Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile
          thereof to be impressed  or  affixed  or reproduced or otherwise.
          Failure to affix the seal shall not, however, affect the validity
          of any instrument.

               11.5 Gender.  All pronouns and variations  thereof  used  in
          these By-laws shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine
          or  neuter  gender,  singular  or  plural, as the identity of the
          person, persons, entity or entities referred to require.

                                      SECTION 12
 
                                   INDEMNIFICATION

                12.1 Definitions.  As used in  this  section  the  following
          terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

                    (a)  "Board"  -  the  Board of Directors of the Corpora-
          tion.

                    (b)  "Claim"  -  any threatened,  pending  or  completed
          claim, action, suit, or proceeding,  whether  civil, criminal, ad-
          ministrative or investigative and whether made  judicially  or ex-
          tra-judicially,  or  any  separate issue or matter therein, as the
          context requires.

                    (c)  "Determining  Body"  -  (i)   those  members of the
          Board  who are not named as parties to the Claim for which  indem-
          nification  is  being sought ("Impartial Directors"), if there are
          at least three Impartial  Directors,  (ii) a committee of at least
          three  Impartial  Directors appointed  by  the  Board  (regardless
          whether the members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  voting on such
          appointment are Impartial Directors) or (iii) if there  are  fewer
          than three Impartial Directors or if the Board of Directors or the
          committee  appointed pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph  so
          directs (regardless  whether  the  members  thereof  are Impartial
          Directors),  independent  legal counsel, which may be the  regular
          outside counsel of the Corporation.
<PAGE>
                    (d)  "Disbursing  Officer" - the Chief Executive Officer
          of the Corporation or, if the  Chief  Executive Officer is a party
          to the Claim for which indemnification  is being sought, any offi-
          cer  not  a  party to such Claim who is designated  by  the  Chief
          Executive Officer to be the Disbursing Officer with respect to in-
          demnification  requests  related  to  the Claim, which designation
          shall be made promptly after receipt of  the  initial  request for
          indemnification with respect to such Claim.

                    (e)  "Expenses"  -  any  expenses  or  costs (including,
          without  limitation,  attorney's  fees,  judgments,  punitive   or
          exemplary damages, fines and amounts paid in settlement).

                    (f)  "Indemnitee" - each person who is or was a director
          or officer of the Corporation.

                12.2 Indemnity and Advancement of Expenses.

                    (a) To the extent such Expenses exceed the amounts reim-
               bursed  or  paid  pursuant to policies of liability insurance
               maintained  by the Corporation,  the  Corporation  shall  in-
               demnify each  Indemnitee  against  any  Expenses actually and
               reasonably  incurred  by  him  (as  they  are  incurred)   in
               connection  with  any Claim either against him or as to which
               he is involved solely as a witness or person required to give
               evidence, by reason  of  his  position  (i)  as a director or
               officer of the Corporation,  (ii) as a director or officer of
               any subsidiary of the Corporation, (iii) as a  fiduciary with
               respect  to any employee benefit plan of the Corporation,  or
               (iv) as a  director,  officer,  partner, employee or agent of
               another Corporation, partnership,  joint  venture,  trust  or
               other  for-profit  or not-for-profit entity or enterprise, if
               such  position  is  or   was  held  at  the  request  of  the
               Corporation, whether relating  to  service  in  such position
               before or after the effective date of this Section, if he (i)
               is  successful in his defense of the Claim on the  merits  or
               otherwise  or  (ii)  has  been  found by the Determining Body
               (acting in good faith) to have met  the  Standard  of Conduct
               (defined  below);  provided  that  (A)  the  amount otherwise
               payable by the Corporation may be reduced by the  Determining
               Body to such amount as it deems proper if it determines  that
               the  Claim  involved  the  receipt  of  a personal benefit by
               Indemnitee,  and  (B)  no indemnification shall  be  made  in
               respect of any Claim as  to  which Indemnitee shall have been
               adjudged by a court of competent  jurisdiction, after exhaus-
               tion of all appeals therefrom, to be  liable  for  willful or
               intentional misconduct in the performance of his duty  to the
               Corporation or to have obtained an improper personal benefit,
               unless,  and only to the extent that, a court shall determine
               upon application  that, despite the adjudication of liability
               but in view of all  the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee
               is  fairly and reasonably  entitled  to  indemnity  for  such
               Expenses as the court deems proper.
<PAGE>
                    (b)  The  Standard of Conduct is met when the conduct by
               an Indemnitee with  respect  to which a Claim is asserted was
               conduct  that  was  in  good faith  and  that  he  reasonably
               believed to be in, or not  opposed  to,  the best interest of
               the  Corporation,  and, in the case of a criminal  action  or
               proceeding, that he  had  no  reasonable cause to believe was
               unlawful.  The termination of any  Claim  by judgment, order,
               settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo  contendere or
               its  equivalent,  shall  not, of itself, create a presumption
               that Indemnitee did not meet the Standard of Conduct.

                    (c) Promptly upon becoming aware of the existence of any
               Claim as to which he may be indemnified hereunder, Indemnitee
               shall notify the Chief Executive  Officer  of the Corporation
               of  the Claim and whether he intends to seek  indemnification
               hereunder.   If such notice indicates that Indemnitee does so
               intend, the Chief Executive Officer shall promptly advise the
               Board thereof  and notify the Board that the establishment of
               the Determining  Body  with  respect  to  the Claim will be a
               matter presented at the next regularly scheduled  meeting  of
               the  Board.   After the Determining Body has been established
               the  Chief Executive  Officer  shall  inform  the  Indemnitee
               thereof  and  Indemnitee  shall  immediately  provide the De-
               termining Body with all facts relevant to the Claim  known to
               him.  Within 60 days of the receipt of such information,  to-
               gether  with  such  additional information as the Determining
               Body may request of Indemnitee,  the  Determining  Body shall
               determine,  and shall advise Indemnitee of its determination,
               whether Indemnitee has met the Standard of Conduct.

                    (d) During such 60-day period, Indemnitee shall promptly
               inform the Determining  Body  upon  his becoming aware of any
               relevant  facts  not  therefore  provided   by   him  to  the
               Determining  Body,  unless the Determining Body has  obtained
               such facts by other means.

                    (e) In the case  of  any Claim not involving a proposed,
               threatened or pending criminal proceeding,

                         (i)  if Indemnitee  has, in the good faith judgment
               of the Determining Body, met the  Standard  of  Conduct,  the
               Corporation  may,  in  its  sole  discretion  after notice to
               Indemnitee, assume all responsibility for the defense  of the
               Claim,  and, in any event, the Corporation and the Indemnitee
               each shall  keep the other informed as to the progress of the
               defense, including  prompt  disclosure  of  any proposals for
               settlement; provided that if the Corporation  is  a  party to
               the Claim and Indemnitee reasonably determines that there  is
               a  conflict  between  the  positions  of  the Corporation and
               Indemnitee with respect to the Claim, then  Indemnitee  shall
               be  entitled  to  conduct  his  defense,  with counsel of his
               choice;  and provided further that Indemnitee  shall  in  any
               event be entitled  at his expense to employ counsel chosen by
               him to participate in the defense of the Claim; and
<PAGE>
                         (ii)  the  Corporation  shall  fairly  consider any
               proposals by Indemnitee for settlement of the Claim.   If the
               Corporation  (A)  proposes  a  settlement  acceptable  to the
               person  asserting  the  Claim,  or  (B) believes a settlement
               proposed  by the person asserting the  Claim  should  be  ac-
               cepted, it  shall  inform Indemnitee of the terms thereof and
               shall  fix  a  reasonable  date  by  which  Indemnitee  shall
               respond.  If Indemnitee  agrees  to  such terms, he shall ex-
               ecute such documents as shall be necessary to effect the set-
               tlement.  If he does not agree he may  proceed  with  the de-
               fense of the Claim in any manner he chooses, but if he is not
               successful on the merits or otherwise, the Corporation's  ob-
               ligation to indemnify him for any Expenses incurred following
               his  disagreement  shall  be limited to the lesser of (A) the
               total Expenses incurred by  him following his decision not to
               agree  to such proposed settlement  or  (B)  the  amount  the
               Corporation would have paid pursuant to the terms of the pro-
               posed settlement.  If, however, the proposed settlement would
               impose upon Indemnitee any requirement to act or refrain from
               acting that  would  materially  interfere with the conduct of
               his affairs, Indemnitee may refuse  such  settlement and pro-
               ceed with the defense of the Claim, if he so  desires, at the
               Corporation's  expense  without  regard  to  the  limitations
               imposed  by  the  preceding  sentence.  In no event, however,
               shall the Corporation be obligated  to  indemnify  Indemnitee
               for any amount paid in a settlement that the Corporation  has
               not approved.

                    (f)  In  the  case  of  a  Claim  involving  a proposed,
               threatened  or pending criminal proceeding, Indemnitee  shall
               be entitled to  conduct the defense of the Claim, and to make
               all decisions with  respect  thereto,  with  counsel  of  his
               choice,  provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be
               obligated  to  indemnify  Indemnitee  for  an  amount paid in
               settlement that the Corporation has not approved.

                    (g) After notifying the Corporation of the  existence of
               a  Claim,  Indemnitee  may  from  time  to  time request  the
               Corporation to pay the Expenses (other than judgments, fines,
               penalties or amounts paid in settlement) that  he  incurs  in
               pursuing  a  defense  of the Claim prior to the time that the
               Determining Body determines  whether  the Standard of Conduct
               has been met.  If the Disbursing Officer  believes the amount
               requested  to be reasonable, he shall pay to  Indemnitee  the
               amount requested (regardless of Indemnitee's apparent ability
               to repay such amount) upon receipt of an undertaking by or on
               behalf  of Indemnitee  to  repay  such  amount  if  it  shall
               ultimately  be  determined  that  he  is  not  entitled to be
               indemnified  by the Corporation under the circumstances.   If
               the Disbursing  Officer  does  not  believe such amount to be
               reasonable, the Corporation shall pay  the  amount  deemed by
               him to be reasonable and Indemnitee may apply directly to the
               Determining Body for the remainder of the amount requested.
<PAGE>
                    (h)  After the Determining Body has determined that  the
               Standard of Conduct was met, for so long as and to the extent
               that the Corporation  is  required  to  indemnify  Indemnitee
               under  this Agreement, the provisions of Paragraph (g)  shall
               continue  to  apply  with  respect to Expenses incurred after
               such time except that (i) no undertaking shall be required of
               Indemnitee  and  (ii) the Disbursing  Officer  shall  pay  to
               Indemnitee such amount  of  any fines, penalties or judgments
               against him which have become  final  as  the  Corporation is
               obligated to indemnify him.

                    (i) Any determination by the Corporation with respect to
               settlements of a Claim shall be made by the Determining Body.

                    (j) The Corporation and Indemnitee shall keep  confiden-
               tial,  to  the  extent  permitted  by law and their fiduciary
               obligations, all facts and determinations  provided  or  made
               pursuant  to or arising out of the operation of this Section,
               and the Corporation  and Indemnitee shall instruct its or his
               agents and employees to do likewise.

                12.3 Enforcement.

                    (a)  The  rights  provided  by  this  Section  shall  be
               enforceable  by  Indemnitee   in   any   court  of  competent
               jurisdiction.

                    (b) If Indemnitee seeks a judicial adjudication  of  his
               rights  under  this  Section  Indemnitee shall be entitled to
               recover from the Corporation, and shall be indemnified by the
               Corporation  against,  any  and  all  Expenses  actually  and
               reasonably incurred by him in connection with such proceeding
               but only if he prevails therein.   If  it shall be determined
               that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part  but  not  all of
               the  relief sought, then the Indemnitee shall be entitled  to
               be reimbursed  for all Expenses incurred by him in connection
               with such judicial  adjudication if the amount to which he is
               determined to be entitled  exceeds  50%  of the amount of his
               claim.   Otherwise, the Expenses incurred  by  Indemnitee  in
               connection   with   such   judicial   adjudication  shall  be
               appropriately prorated.

                    (c)  In  any  judicial  proceeding  described   in  this
               subsection,  the Corporation shall bear the burden of proving
               that Indemnitee  is  not entitled to any Expenses sought with
               respect to any Claim.
<PAGE>
                12.4 Saving Clause.   If  any  provision  of this Section is
               determined by a court having jurisdiction over  the matter to
               require the Corporation to do or refrain from doing  any  act
               that  is  in  violation of applicable law, the court shall be
               empowered to modify  or  reform  such  provision  so that, as
               modified  or  reformed,  such  provision provides the maximum
               indemnification permitted by law,  and  such provision, as so
               modified or reformed, and the balance of  this Section, shall
               be applied in accordance with their terms.   Without limiting
               the  generality  of  the  foregoing, if any portion  of  this
               Section shall be invalidated  on  any ground, the Corporation
               shall nevertheless indemnify an Indemnitee to the full extent
               permitted  by any applicable portion  of  this  Section  that
               shall not have  been  invalidated and to the full extent per-
               mitted by law with respect  to that portion that has been in-
               validated.

                12.5 Non-Exclusivity.

                    (a)  The indemnification  and  advancement  of  Expenses
               provided by  or granted pursuant to this Section shall not be
               deemed exclusive  of  any other rights to which Indemnitee is
               or  may  become  entitled   under  any  statute,  article  of
               incorporation,  by-law,  authorization   of  shareholders  or
               directors, agreement, or otherwise.

                    (b) It is the intent of the Corporation  by this Section
               to indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the  fullest ex-
               tent permitted by law, so that if applicable law would permit
               the  Corporation  to  provide broader indemnification  rights
               than are currently permitted, the Corporation shall indemnify
               and hold harmless Indemnitee  to the fullest extent permitted
               by applicable law notwithstanding  that  the  other  terms of
               this Section would provide for lesser indemnification.

                 12.6 Successors and Assigns.  This Section shall be binding
               upon  the  Corporation, its successors and assigns, and shall
               inure to the  benefit  of  the  Indemnitee's  heirs, personal
               representatives,  and  assigns  and  to  the benefit  of  the
               Corporation, its successors and assigns.

                12.7 Indemnification of Other Persons.  The  Corporation may
               indemnify  any  person  not covered by Sections 12.1  through
               12.6 to the extent provided in a resolution of the Board or a
               separate section of these By-laws.
<PAGE>
                                      SECTION 13

                                      AMENDMENTS

               13.1 Adoption of By-laws;  Amendments  Thereof.  By-laws  of
               the Corporation may be adopted only by (i) a majority of the
               entire  Board  of  Directors  at  any  time when there is no
               Related Person (as defined in Article V.A.2  of the Articles
               of  Incorporation)  or  (ii)  both a majority of the  entire
               Board  of  Directors  and  a  majority   of  the  Continuing
               Directors (as defined in Article V.A.4 of  the  Articles  of
               Incorporation)  at  any  time when there is a Related Person
               Article (as defined in Article  V.A.2  of  the  Articles  of
               Incorporation).   By-laws may be amended or repealed only by
               (i) a majority of the  entire Board of Directors at any time
               when there is no Related  Person  (except that any amendment
               to or repeal of Section 6 of these  By-laws shall require an
               affirmative vote of at least three-quarters  of  the  entire
               Board  of  Directors),  (ii)  both  a majority of the entire
               Board and a majority of the Continuing Directors at any time
               when there is a Related Person (as defined  in Article V.A.2
               of the Articles of Incorporation), or (iii) the  affirmative
               vote  of  the  holders  of  at least 80% of the Total Voting
               Power at any regular or special meeting of shareholders, the
               notice of which expressly states that the proposed amendment
               or repeal is to be considered at the meeting.

               13.2 Re-Amendment or Re-adoption by Board of Directors.  Any
               provision  of  these  By-laws amended  or  repealed  by  the
               shareholders may be re-amended  or  re-adopted in the manner
               provided in Section 13.1.

               13.3  New By-laws; Amendments.  Any purported  amendment  to
               these By-laws  which  would  add hereto a matter not covered
               herein prior to such purported  amendment shall be deemed to
               constitute the adoption of a By-law  provision  and  not  an
               amendment to the By-laws.
<PAGE>

             November 7, 1997

             Avondale Industries, Inc.
             Post Office Box 50280
             New Orleans, Louisiana  70150

             We   have  made  a  review,  in  accordance  with  standards
             established  by  the  American Institute of Certified Public
             Accountants, of the unaudited  interim financial information
             of  Avondale  Industries,  Inc.  and  subsidiaries  for  the
             periods ended September 30, 1997 and  1996,  as indicated in
             our  report  dated  November  4,  1997; because we  did  not
             perform   an  audit,  we  expressed  no  opinion   on   that
             information.

             We are aware  that  our  report  referred to above, which is
             included  in your Quarterly Report  on  Form  10-Q  for  the
             quarter  ended   September  30,  1997,  is  incorporated  by
             reference in Registration  Statement  Nos. 33-31984 and 333-
             32165 on Form S-8.

             We also are aware that the aforementioned  report,  pursuant
             to  Rule  436(c)  under  the  Securities Act of 1933, is not
             considered a part of the Registration  Statement prepared or
             certified by an accountant or a report prepared or certified
             by an accountant within the meaning of Sections  7 and 11 of
             that Act.



             DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
             New Orleans, Louisiana
<PAGE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM AVONDALE
INDUSTRIES, INC.'S QUARTERLY REPORT FILED ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          66,142
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  109,664
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     22,307
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               220,052
<PP&E>                                         258,491
<DEPRECIATION>                               (133,454)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 354,525
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           80,268
<BONDS>                                         51,819
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                        15,956
<OTHER-SE>                                     185,779
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   354,525
<SALES>                                        444,522
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               444,522
<CGS>                                          386,718
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  386,718
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,647
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 30,691
<INCOME-TAX>                                    11,100
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             19,591
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
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<NET-INCOME>                                    19,591
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.35
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<PAGE>

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