GENERAL TOWING

Bay-Houston Christens Tug

Haden II, the 12th tug for Bay-Houston Towing Company, was christened in Galveston. Designed in-house in coordination with Schuller & Allan, Inc., the 3,900 bhp tug is designed primarily for ship docking, but also has general towing capabilities. The vessel was built by Main Iron Works, and will service the ports of Houston and Galveston. Design criteria were developed to enhance the most important functions of the tug's mission: high maneuverability, coupled with maximum bollard pull (thrust).

CG Reopens Intracoastal Waterway

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur reopened the Intracoastal Waterway after the towing vessel Caroline was refloated Monday. The waterway was closed following a collision between the towing vessel Caroline and the towing vessel Miss Stacie at mile marker 312 on the Intracoastal Waterway early this morning.  No injuries were sustained during the collision. A Unified Command comprised of Canal Barge Company, Texas General Land Office

USCG Issues Fire Protection Equipment Requirements

All towing vessels except those in restricted services are required to comply with new requirements for fire protection equipment and procedures under an interim rule issued by the USCG. The rule is the first step in a two-pronged approach to implementing the requirements of the 1996 USCG Authorization Act, which directed the USCG to promulgate regulations requiring fire suppression systems or other measures to control fires on towing vessels.

Coast Guard Monitors Sunken Tow Boat

Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur is monitoring the pollution threat and structural integrity of the 132-foot, U.S.-flagged towing vessel Mama Lere, which is partially submerged and accompanied by a four barge tow. The Mama Lere began flooding while transiting from New Orleans to Houston. The flooding began in the engine room at Mile Marker 289 on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway near the West Port Arthur Bridge

SEMCO Orders Two Tugs

Signing for new tugs: pictured (l/r) are: Peter Lee, General Manager of Semco; V. Sivarajan, Managing Director of Semco parent PSA Marine; Tokuro Takagi, Executive Officer, USC; and Tetsuro Morita, Team Leader, Newbuilding and Commercial Vessels, USC. Following up on the delivery of two 165 tons bollard pull towing/salvage tugs in early 2004, Semco Salvage & Marine Pte Ltd has taken a step in renewing and enhancing fleet capability

Coastal Towing Announces New Refinancing

Coastal Towing, Inc., announced today the consummation of a $28 million senior term loan with the CIT Group/ Equipment Financing, Inc., Heller Financial Leasing, Inc. Pursuant to this transaction, the Company refinanced senior term debt under existing agreements with CIT and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. In addition, the loan will be used to facilitate Coastal?s barge construction program. Coastal Towing Announces New Corporate Officer

Crowley Building Prevention Response Tugs

Vessel Management Services, a subsidiary of Crowley Maritime Corp., is building three Z-drive, Cat-powered prevention response tugs (PRT). The first 140-ft. vessel is scheduled to enter service in Prince William Sound, Alaska, in February, 2000, with the other two following closely in April and June. Dakota Creek Industries, Anacortes, Wash., is building the vessels, which were designed by Guido Perla & Associates, Seattle.

Tristan K: A Powerful New Z-Tech Tug

Recently delivered to her Owners Bay-Houston Towing Co. of Galveston, Texas is the latest Z-Tech 7500 Class tugTristan K. This powerful new ship-handling/escort tug began her maiden voyage on June 9, 2011 for the destination of the recently commissioned LNG terminal in Cameron, Louisiana, where it will be operated by G & H Towing on behalf of the Owners. Tristan K was designed by Naval Architects Robert Allan Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C

NUWC Dedicates $11m Facility

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport cut the ribbon and officially dedicated a new $11 million Maritime Subsurface Sensor Operations Laboratory on Tuesday, Aug. 16.  Sen. Jack Reed and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse attended the event, as well as Rep. David Cicilline. NUWC attendees included the Warfare Center Commander Rear Adm. Thomas Wears and NUWC Technical Director Donald McCormack, and the NUWC Newport Technical Director Dr. Paul Lefebvre.

JK Fabrication’s Emergency Towing Reel

You’ve got an emergency towing wire. Of course you do. It’s rusted beyond belief, probably retired from primary service two years ago when it developed that kink and those nasty fishhooks. And, it’s deployed where it should be; out on deck, in the open and exposed to the elements. Will it perform when you need it most? Probably not. It doesn’t have to be that way. According to JK Fabrication, the current system of storing wire on a front splash plate insures that the