Towing Lines

Metalcraft Towboat for U.S. Navy with UltraJet Waterjets

MetalCraft Marine has delivered its first 26-ft US Navy Tow Boat to Cheatham Annex. Metalcraft Marine was recently awarded a contract by the United States Navy for the construction of eight of their 26-ft tow boats.  The tow boats will support the US Navy’s spill recovery, support and salvage operations worldwide. Fully loaded the aluminium tow boat can reach speeds of 34 knots with its Single Iveco NEF 450 hp engine rated at 420 hp (309 kW) driving a single UltraJet 305HT High Thrust Waterjet viz a ZF 280 gearbox.  UltraJet waterjets were chosen for their high bollard pull for vessel recovery.  During sea trials bollard pull tests achieved 3800 lb.  Thrust vectoring is with Ultra’s Hydromechanical control system with a single helm lever and the hydraulic power-assist steering provides light and responsive directional control.   The hull structure is built to ABS and IACS standards and features a compact forward wheelhouse with enough room aft for bulky cargo and equipment.  Hand rails are removable for line handling, and the transom is equipped with a folding dive platform.  The stern of the vessel is equipped with Norman pins to help guide tow lines.  When the vessel is in storage the Norman pins double as kickstands, allowing the vessel to rest on its bottom plate with no additional support for stability.  

Ice Class Firefighter Tug Boat Given Ecospeed Protection

Last August, the 31-meter tug boat Ocean Raymond Lemay was coated with Ecospeed on the  Isle-aux-Coudres in Quebec, Canada. The vessel is owned by Ocean Group Inc., who, among many other services, offers efficient and safe harbor towing services in the ports of Quebec, Montreal, Toronto and a number of smaller harbors.   M/V Ocean Raymond Lemay is both an Ice Class and a Firefighting Class vessel, which means she can be used in a wide range of operations

Transocean Updates Rig Status

Transocean Inc. reported that damage assessments of the moored semisubmersible rigs Transocean Marianas and Deepwater Nautilus, which sustained damage during the recent hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, are substantially complete and an estimate of repair time has been made for each unit. The company reported on September 27, 2005 that the Transocean Marianas was forced off its drilling location during Hurricane Rita, causing damage to the rig's mooring system

Coast Guard Investigating Collision

Crewmembers of Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Houston-Galveston are investigating the collision between the freight ship Napoleon and a tugboat with four barges in the Houston Ship Channel Monday night. A Coast Guard watchstander at Vessel Traffic Service Houston received the report of the collision via the pilot aboard the Napolean at approximately 10:40 p.m. According to the report the collision occurred while the Napolean attempted to over take the tug Jonathan Thomas

Alabama Shipyard Signs Another Tug/Barge Contract

Alabama Shipyard has signed a contract to build an articulated tug and barge (ATB) vessel for Allied Transportation Company of Norfolk, Va. Both vessels will be designed and built to ABS classification standards. "This is our third major contract award during the last four months of 2000," said Dick Wells, the yard's president. "The total value of these contracts is greater than $65 million. Our employment will grow to over 600 an increase of 300 new jobs from today."

Ocean Emperor Drifts toward Great Barrier Reef

As of July 27, 11.45 a.m., the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is coordinating a maritime casualty response in the Coral Sea for the fully loaded bulk coal carrier Ocean Emperor, in liaison with Maritime Safety Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The Ocean Emperor is currently situated approximately 130 kilometres east of Cooktown off the outer Great Barrier Reef, and is drifting slowly westwards towards the reef

Tugs Being Built for LNG Application

The booming business in the LNG market is reaching all levels of marine business, as attested by Maine's Washburn & Doughty Associates, Inc., which is currently building two 4,400 hp Z-Drive (ASD) Tugs for Boston Towing & Transportation Company (BTT) of Boston. The vessels measure 92 x 32 x 13.75 ft. and have an estimated bollard pull of 110,000 lbs ahead and 105,000 lbs astern. BTT is a division of Reinauer Transportation Companies of Staten Island, New York.

Higman Marine Grows:

Innovation and New Building are Key Movers for this Gulf Coast Bulk Transportation Provider.   Fleet And Staff Have Doubled In Ten Years Gordie Keenan, Higman's vice president of training told MarineNews in January, “We have 54 inland towboats, the majority of which are rated at 2,000 horse power, and 116 inland tank barges. Today our vessels are bigger with more horsepower, pushing more barrels, than ten years ago

TITAN Salvage Opens Fourth Facility in Cairns, Australia

Team Springs into Immediate Action with Successful Rescue and Salvage of Two Stricken Vessels in Waters Surrounding Australia. To meet the needs of changing market conditions and increased commercial vessel traffic in and around the Great Barrier Reef, TITAN Salvage has established a new office and equipment depot in Cairns, Australia. The presence in the Pacific Southeast enhances the company’s marine salvage, wreck removal and emergency response capabilities in the region

Coastal Marine Delivers for Louisiana Floodgates

Coastal Marine Equipment delivered the winches, controls, hydraulic system, four roller fairleads and guide sheaves for the houma navigational canal and bayou grand caillou floodgate projects built by Bollinger Shipyards and Gulf Island Marine Fabricators. This system is responsible for the opening and closing of each floodgate to help protect Louisiana in a hurricane storm surge. Coastal Marine Equipment manufactures a complete line of marine deck equipment including anchor windlasses