ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES *Basis of Presentation* Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc., together with its subsidiaries (the “Company”, “we” or “our”), is a leading fabricator of offshore drilling and production platforms and other specialized structures used in the development and production of offshore oil and gas reserves. The Company’s corporate offices and five major subsidiaries are located in Houma, Louisiana, and another major subsidiary is located in San Patricio County, Texas. The Company’s principal markets are concentrated in the offshore regions and along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. and its majority owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. serves as a holding company and conducts all of its operations through its subsidiaries, which include Gulf Island, L.L.C. (“Gulf Island”) and Gulf Marine Fabricators, L.P. (“Gulf Marine”) (both performing fabrication of offshore drilling and production platforms and other specialized structures used in the development and production of oil and gas reserves), Gulf Island Marine Fabricators, L.L.C. (“Gulf Island Marine”, performing marine fabrication and construction services), Dolphin Services, L.L.C. (“Dolphin Services”, performing offshore and onshore fabrication and construction services), Dolphin Steel Sales, L.L.C. (“Dolphin Steel Sales”, selling steel plate and other steel products) and Gulf Island Resources, L.L.C. (“Gulf Island Resources”, hiring of laborers with similar rates and terms as those provided by contract labor service companies). *Operating Cycle* The lengths of our contracts vary, but are typically longer than one year in duration. Consistent with industry practice, assets and liabilities have been classified as current under the operating cycle concept whereby all contract-related items are regarded as current regardless of whether cash will be received or paid within a twelve month period. Assets and liabilities classified as current which may not be paid or received within the next twelve months include contract retainage, costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, and billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts. However, any variation from normal contract terms would cause classification of assets and liabilities as long-term. *Use of Estimates* The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Areas requiring significant estimates by our management include asset impairments, contract valuation allowances, contract revenues, costs and profits and the application of the percentage-of-completion (POC) method of accounting. Actual results could differ from those estimates. *Cash Equivalents* The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. *Allowance for Doubtful Accounts* We routinely review individual contracts receivable balances and make provisions for probable doubtful accounts as we deem appropriate. Among the factors considered during the review are the financial condition of our customer and their access to financing, underlying disputes on the account, age and amount of the account and overall economic conditions. Accounts are written off only when all reasonable collection efforts are exhausted. Our principal customers include major and large independent oil and gas companies and their contractors and marine vessel operators and their contractors. This concentration of customers may impact our overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions. Receivables are generally not collateralized. In the normal course of business, we extend credit to our customers on a short-term basis. *Stock-Based Compensation* Awards under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans are calculated using a fair-value based measurement method. Share-based compensation expense for share based awards is recognized only for those awards that are expected to vest. We use the straight-line method to recognize share-based compensation expense over the requisite service period of the award. *Inventory* Inventory consists of materials and production supplies and is stated at the lower of cost or market determined on the first-in, first-out basis. *Workers Compensation Liability* The Company and its subsidiaries Gulf Island, Gulf Island Marine and Dolphin Services are self-insured for workers’ compensation liability except for losses in excess of $300,000 per occurrence through November 1, 2012 and $500,000 per occurrence thereafter for Louisiana workers’ compensation and for U.S. longshoreman and harbor workers’ coverage. Gulf Marine has insurance coverage for Texas workers’ compensation with a $300,000 deductible. The liability for workers compensation is based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. Our workers compensation liability balance was $1.6 million and $983,000 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. *Property, Plant and Equipment* Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 3 to 25 years. Ordinary maintenance and repairs, which do not extend the physical or economic lives of the plant or equipment, are charged to expense as incurred. *Long-Lived Assets* The Company records impairment losses on long-lived assets or asset groups used in operations when events and circumstances indicate that the assets or asset groups might be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets or asset groups are less than the carrying amounts of those assets or asset groups. The impairment loss is determined by comparing the fair value of the asset or asset group to its carrying amount and recording the excess of the carrying amount of the asset or asset group over its fair value as an impairment charge. An asset group constitutes the minimum level for which identifiable cash flows are principally independent of the cash flows of other asset or liability groups. Fair value is determined based on discounted cash flows or appraised values, as appropriate. *Fair Value Measurements* The Company bases its fair value determinations of the carrying value of other financial assets and liabilities on an evaluation of their particular facts and circumstances and valuation techniques that require judgements and estimates. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value maximize the use of relevant observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the valuation technique. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, none of our assets or liabilities were subject to fair value measurements. *Revenue Recognition* The Company uses the percentage-of-completion accounting method for construction contracts. Revenue from fixed-price or unit rate contracts is recognized on the percentage-of-completion method, computed by the efforts-expended method which measures the percentage of labor hours incurred to date as compared to estimated total labor hours for each contract. This progress percentage is applied to estimated gross profit for each contract to determine gross profit earned to date. Revenue recognized in a period for a contract is the amount of gross profit earned for that period plus the costs incurred on the contract during the period. Under a unit rate contract, material items or labor tasks are assigned unit rates of measure. The unit rates of measure will generally be an amount of dollars per ton, per foot, per square foot or per item installed. A typical unit rate contract can contain hundreds to thousands of unit rates of measure that all accumulate to determine the total contract value. Profit margins are built into the unit rates. Some contracts include a total or partial reimbursement to us of any costs associated with specific capital projects required by the fabrication process. If a particular capital project provides future benefits to us, the cost to build the capital project will be capitalized, and the revenue for the capital project will increase the estimated profit in the contract. Contract costs include all direct material, labor and subcontract costs and those indirect costs related to contract performance, such as indirect labor, supplies and tools. Also included in contract costs are a portion of those indirect contract costs related to plant capacity, such as depreciation, insurance and repairs and maintenance. These indirect costs are allocated to jobs based on actual direct labor hours incurred. Profit incentives are included in revenue when their realization is probable. Claims for extra work or changes in scope of work are included in revenue when the amount can be reliably estimated and collection is probable. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions, and final contract settlements may result in revisions to costs and income and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined. At December 31, 2012, we recorded revenue totaling $5.2 million related to certain change orders on four projects which have been approved as to scope but not price. We expect to resolve these change orders in the first and second quarters of 2013. At December 31, 2012, we also recorded revenue totaling $7.7 million related to re-measure units and quantities on a unit rate contract that is in progress. We are in the process of negotiating the application of contractual unit rates to these quantities and expect to finalize these measurement packages in the first and second quarter of 2013. No revenues were recorded at December 31, 2011 and 2010 related to unapproved change orders. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are determined. We recognized contract losses of $12.5 million, $3.0 million, and $1.3 million in the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. Contract losses increased in 2012 due mainly to the increase in manhours estimated to complete one of our major deepwater projects. These increased man-hours were primarily driven by revisions and delivery delays to specifications and designs by our customer causing out-of-sequence work schedules to be used while executing the project. The customer extended delivery of the first phase of the project multiple times as a result of these revisions and delays. On March 7, 2013 we executed change orders with the customer which settled issues raised in a claim for additional costs on this project. Revenue for this claim earned by the Company was recorded in the year ended December 31, 2012. The change order also includes incentives related to key milestone date and performance metrics which have not been recorded as of December 31, 2012 but will be recorded as revenue in future periods if and when incentive terms are met. Any future deliverable delays or project revisions could result in future revisions to contract estimates. *Income Taxes* Income taxes have been provided using the liability method. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes using enacted rates expected to be in effect during the year in which the basis differences reverse. A valuation allowance is provided to reserve for deferred tax assets if, based upon the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Reserves for uncertain tax positions are recognized when the positions are more likely than not to not be sustained upon audit. Interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions are recorded in income tax expense. Our federal tax returns have been examined and settled through the 2007 tax year. There were no material uncertain tax positions recorded for the years presented in these statements. *Reclassifications* Prepaid subcontractor costs for the year ended December 31, 2011 has been reclassified to conform to the December 31, 2012 Consolidated Financial Statement presentation.

1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc., together with its subsidiaries (the “Company”, “we” or “our”), is a leading fabricator of offshore drilling and production platforms and other specialized structures used in the development and production of offshore oil and gas reserves. The Company’s corporate offices and five major subsidiaries are located in Houma, Louisiana, and another major subsidiary is located in San Patricio County, Texas. The Company’s principal markets are concentrated in the offshore regions and along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. and its majority owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. serves as a holding company and conducts all of its operations through its subsidiaries, which include Gulf Island, L.L.C. (“Gulf Island”) and Gulf Marine Fabricators, L.P. (“Gulf Marine”) (both performing fabrication of offshore drilling and production platforms and other specialized structures used in the development and production of oil and gas reserves), Gulf Island Marine Fabricators, L.L.C. (“Gulf Island Marine”, performing marine fabrication and construction services), Dolphin Services, L.L.C. (“Dolphin Services”, performing offshore and onshore fabrication and construction services), Dolphin Steel Sales, L.L.C. (“Dolphin Steel Sales”, selling steel plate and other steel products) and Gulf Island Resources, L.L.C. (“Gulf Island Resources”, hiring of laborers with similar rates and terms as those provided by contract labor service companies).

Operating Cycle

The lengths of our contracts vary, but are typically longer than one year in duration. Consistent with industry practice, assets and liabilities have been classified as current under the operating cycle concept whereby all contract-related items are regarded as current regardless of whether cash will be received or paid within a twelve month period. Assets and liabilities classified as current which may not be paid or received within the next twelve months include contract retainage, costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, and billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts. However, any variation from normal contract terms would cause classification of assets and liabilities as long-term.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Areas requiring significant estimates by our management include asset impairments, contract valuation allowances, contract revenues, costs and profits and the application of the percentage-of-completion (POC) method of accounting. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We routinely review individual contracts receivable balances and make provisions for probable doubtful accounts as we deem appropriate. Among the factors considered during the review are the financial condition of our customer and their access to financing, underlying disputes on the account, age and amount of the account and overall economic conditions. Accounts are written off only when all reasonable collection efforts are exhausted.

Our principal customers include major and large independent oil and gas companies and their contractors and marine vessel operators and their contractors. This concentration of customers may impact our overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions. Receivables are generally not collateralized. In the normal course of business, we extend credit to our customers on a short-term basis.

Stock-Based Compensation

Awards under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans are calculated using a fair-value based measurement method. Share-based compensation expense for share based awards is recognized only for those awards that are expected to vest. We use the straight-line method to recognize share-based compensation expense over the requisite service period of the award.

Inventory

Inventory consists of materials and production supplies and is stated at the lower of cost or market determined on the first-in, first-out basis.

Workers Compensation Liability

The Company and its subsidiaries Gulf Island, Gulf Island Marine and Dolphin Services are self-insured for workers’ compensation liability except for losses in excess of $300,000 per occurrence through November 1, 2012 and $500,000 per occurrence thereafter for Louisiana workers’ compensation and for U.S. longshoreman and harbor workers’ coverage. Gulf Marine has insurance coverage for Texas workers’ compensation with a $300,000 deductible. The liability for workers compensation is based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. Our workers compensation liability balance was $1.6 million and $983,000 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 3 to 25 years. Ordinary maintenance and repairs, which do not extend the physical or economic lives of the plant or equipment, are charged to expense as incurred.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company records impairment losses on long-lived assets or asset groups used in operations when events and circumstances indicate that the assets or asset groups might be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets or asset groups are less than the carrying amounts of those assets or asset groups. The impairment loss is determined by comparing the fair value of the asset or asset group to its carrying amount and recording the excess of the carrying amount of the asset or asset group over its fair value as an impairment charge. An asset group constitutes the minimum level for which identifiable cash flows are principally independent of the cash flows of other asset or liability groups. Fair value is determined based on discounted cash flows or appraised values, as appropriate.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company bases its fair value determinations of the carrying value of other financial assets and liabilities on an evaluation of their particular facts and circumstances and valuation techniques that require judgements and estimates. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value maximize the use of relevant observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the valuation technique. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, none of our assets or liabilities were subject to fair value measurements.

Revenue Recognition

The Company uses the percentage-of-completion accounting method for construction contracts. Revenue from fixed-price or unit rate contracts is recognized on the percentage-of-completion method, computed by the efforts-expended method which measures the percentage of labor hours incurred to date as compared to estimated total labor hours for each contract. This progress percentage is applied to estimated gross profit for each contract to determine gross profit earned to date. Revenue recognized in a period for a contract is the amount of gross profit earned for that period plus the costs incurred on the contract during the period.

Under a unit rate contract, material items or labor tasks are assigned unit rates of measure. The unit rates of measure will generally be an amount of dollars per ton, per foot, per square foot or per item installed. A typical unit rate contract can contain hundreds to thousands of unit rates of measure that all accumulate to determine the total contract value. Profit margins are built into the unit rates.

Some contracts include a total or partial reimbursement to us of any costs associated with specific capital projects required by the fabrication process. If a particular capital project provides future benefits to us, the cost to build the capital project will be capitalized, and the revenue for the capital project will increase the estimated profit in the contract.

Contract costs include all direct material, labor and subcontract costs and those indirect costs related to contract performance, such as indirect labor, supplies and tools. Also included in contract costs are a portion of those indirect contract costs related to plant capacity, such as depreciation, insurance and repairs and maintenance. These indirect costs are allocated to jobs based on actual direct labor hours incurred. Profit incentives are included in revenue when their realization is probable. Claims for extra work or changes in scope of work are included in revenue when the amount can be reliably estimated and collection is probable. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions, and final contract settlements may result in revisions to costs and income and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined.

At December 31, 2012, we recorded revenue totaling $5.2 million related to certain change orders on four projects which have been approved as to scope but not price. We expect to resolve these change orders in the first and second quarters of 2013. At December 31, 2012, we also recorded revenue totaling $7.7 million related to re-measure units and quantities on a unit rate contract that is in progress. We are in the process of negotiating the application of contractual unit rates to these quantities and expect to finalize these measurement packages in the first and second quarter of 2013. No revenues were recorded at December 31, 2011 and 2010 related to unapproved change orders.

Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are determined. We recognized contract losses of $12.5 million, $3.0 million, and $1.3 million in the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. Contract losses increased in 2012 due mainly to the increase in manhours estimated to complete one of our major deepwater projects. These increased man-hours were primarily driven by revisions and delivery delays to specifications and designs by our customer causing out-of-sequence work schedules to be used while executing the project. The customer extended delivery of the first phase of the project multiple times as a result of these revisions and delays. On March 7, 2013 we executed change orders with the customer which settled issues raised in a claim for additional costs on this project. Revenue for this claim earned by the Company was recorded in the year ended December 31, 2012. The change order also includes incentives related to key milestone date and performance metrics which have not been recorded as of December 31, 2012 but will be recorded as revenue in future periods if and when incentive terms are met. Any future deliverable delays or project revisions could result in future revisions to contract estimates.

Income Taxes

Income taxes have been provided using the liability method. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes using enacted rates expected to be in effect during the year in which the basis differences reverse. A valuation allowance is provided to reserve for deferred tax assets if, based upon the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Reserves for uncertain tax positions are recognized when the positions are more likely than not to not be sustained upon audit. Interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions are recorded in income tax expense. Our federal tax returns have been examined and settled through the 2007 tax year. There were no material uncertain tax positions recorded for the years presented in these statements.

Reclassifications

Prepaid subcontractor costs for the year ended December 31, 2011 has been reclassified to conform to the December 31, 2012 Consolidated Financial Statement presentation.