Marcon International, Inc. has announced that Ketchikan Pulp Company has sold its double skin OPA’90 ocean tank/railcar barge Harry A. Merlo to Cenac Towing Co. of Houma, La.
The 9,000 dwt, ABS-classed barge was built in 1994 by Gulf Coast Fabricators at a cost of about $8.4 million to supply fuel oil, chemicals and other materials for pulp processing and lumber mill operations in southeastern Alaska. The 402-ft. barge was designed by Elliot Bay Design Group of Seattle, Wash. Black oil, diesel and caustic soda were carried north in the integral cargo tanks, and smaller parcels of chemicals and stocks were hauled in tank and hopper cars loaded on deck. On the southbound run, box cars were loaded with pulp.
In 1997, the mill was closed because it needed about $200 million in environmental upgrades and other improvements. The barge became surplus to its owners’ requirements.
The vessel’s new owners plan to mobilize the barge to the U.S. Gulf and are in discussions with owners of a local tug Marcon has introduced. This is the 23rd vessel Marcon has sold to-date this year.