Claiming "an advancement in the art of tug and
barge design," Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering (OT&B), Milford, Conn., has introduced a
new ATB design "based on the firm's long experience and highly successful specialization in this market," said OT&BE President Robert Hill.
The company's Costwise AT/B series are targeted to attain higher unit speeds at sea, better maneuverability and improvements in habitability, constructability and ergonomics.
"The Costwise AT/B design will be adaptable to the broader, worldwide market, while still meeting the unique design requirements of the U.S. market," Hill said. The company says it has had a hand either in the design or refit engineering of over one-half of the ATBs operation in the United States.
The new designs are adaptable to the full line of connection systems such as Intercon,
Bludworth/FPS, Articouple, JAK and Push/Pin. The range of DWT capacities ranges from 2,400 to 18,000 and vessel speeds up to 14 knots.
The first vessels to be built will be a multivessel program to be based outside of the U.S.
This new design was develop in association with CT Marine, Edgecomb, Maine and Taisei Engineering of Tokyo, Japan.