Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP is in talks with the owner of a Louisiana shipyard on the Mississippi River about possibly redeveloping the site.

Shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) said Friday that it and Kinder Morgan will “explore redeveloping” the Avondale shipyard. The yard, which currently employs about 740 people, is slated to complete work it is doing for the U.S. Navy at the end of the summer.

Since HII’s July 2010 announcement that it would close Avondale, the company has sought redevelopment of the facility. A study will be conducted to “explore and evaluate best-use opportunities for the facility,” HII said. “Once the study is completed and a determination has been made for an economically viable, best use of the facility, HII and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners may pursue the formation of a joint venture to re-purpose the Avondale site.”

A Kinder Morgan spokesman referred NGI‘s inquiry about the possible plans for the site to HII’s spokesman, who said the study would take about six months and that no other information was available.

Kinder Morgan has pipeline and terminal assets throughout South Louisiana. The shipyard’s “location on the Mississippi River offers unparalleled access to major markets by truck, rail and sea, making it attractive for many uses,” HII said.