EXHIBIT (a)

      LETTER FROM MIDLAND FABRICATORS AND PROCESS SYSTEMS, L.L.C.

Dear UNIFAB Shareholder:

      Our company, Midland Fabricators and Process Systems, L.L.C., intends to
take UNIFAB International, Inc. private through a "short-form" merger. The
purposes of this letter and the attached Schedule 13e-3 Transaction Statement
that accompanies this letter are to:

            -     tell you more about the merger;

            -     explain why we think that the $0.20 per share in cash that you
                  will receive in the merger is fair consideration for your
                  shares; and

            -     let you know about your rights under Louisiana law to dissent
                  from the merger.

      Neither you nor UNIFAB's board of directors is being asked to approve the
merger. Under Louisiana law, our company will beneficially own a sufficient
number of shares to cause the merger to occur merely by action of the board of
directors of our subsidiary company. After the merger, our company will be the
only shareholder of UNIFAB. In the merger, which we hope will occur on November
5, 2004 or as soon after that as possible, you will receive $0.20 in cash for
each share of common stock of UNIFAB that you own as of that date. If you do not
believe that $0.20 is a fair price for your shares, you can follow the
procedures described in the enclosed Schedule 13E-3 Transaction Statement and
exercise dissenters rights under Louisiana law. YOU SHOULD READ THE SCHEDULE
13E-3 TRANSACTION STATEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO ACCEPT $0.20
PER SHARE OR TO HAVE A LOUISIANA COURT DETERMINE THE FAIR CASH VALUE OF YOUR
SHARES. The amount determined by such court may be higher or lower than $0.20
per share.

      Shareholders of record on the date the merger becomes effective will be
mailed a copy of the Certificate of Merger, as issued by the Louisiana Secretary
of State, and a letter of transmittal. The letter of transmittal will contain
detailed instructions for surrendering your stock certificates. Please do not
submit your stock certificates before you have received these documents.

      After the merger, the common stock of UNIFAB will not be publicly traded,
so UNIFAB will not be required to file reports with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The merger will have federal income tax consequences for you, and
you should consult with your tax adviser in order to understand fully how the
merger will affect you.

                                        Sincerely yours,

                                        Midland Fabricators and Process Systems,
                                        L.L.C.

                                  Exhibit (a)-1