Vessels Christened at Trinity Shipyard amid Fanfare Befitting the Occasion, Attended by a Host of Dignitaries and Featuring a Luncheon to Celebrate the Event.
Trinity Offshore, LLC and Signet Maritime Corporation christened M/V SIGNET STARS & STRIPES and M/V SIGNET CONSTELLATION yesterday at the Trinity Shipyard in Gulfport, Mississippi. This extraordinary affair included many of Signet Maritime’s and Trinity Offshore’s valued customers and employees in addition to many local, state and national political figures. The Christenings occurred at 10:30 A.M. Mrs. Gayle L. Wicker, wife of The Honorable Roger F. Wicker, United States Senator, Tupelo, Mississippi, christened the M/V SIGNET STARS & STRIPES. Immediately following, Mrs. Tara E. Hauhe, wife of Mr. William E. Hauhe, General Manager, Angola LNG Supply Services LLC, Houston, Texas, christened M/V SIGNET CONSTELLATION.
“The skies over Mississippi will be brighter when Signet Maritime Corporation puts its two new escort tugs to work next month,” said United States Senator, Roger Wicker, during the vessels' christenings. The program included a speech by Signet Maritime’s President and Owner, Mr. J. Barry Snyder notating the importance these tugs bring to Mississippi Shipbuilding and Gulf of Mexico LNG services. The technologically advanced tugs are specifically designed and engineered to offer superior ship-handling, escort, and sea-keeping performance and incorporate cutting edge design, leading the way in marine vessel service provided to LNG carriers. Luncheon at Latitude 30° Restaurant on Gulfport Lake followed the shipyard ceremonies.
The M/V SIGNET CONSTELLATION, Trinity Hull TO-22, was launched on September 7, 2011 and yesterday’s christening of M/V SIGNET STARS & STRIPES, Trinity Hull TO-23, marked her official launch. Both tugs are 100’ (30.48m) RAstar 3100 Class Terminal Support/Escort Tugs, built for Signet Maritime Corporation’s U.S. Gulf of Mexico operations and will provide marine services to Angola LNG Supply Services (ALSS) in the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Robert Allan Ltd. designed ASD tugs are built to American Bureau of Shipping Maltese Cross A1 Towing & Escort Service, Fire Fighting Class 1 (Fi-Fi 1) and Maltese Cross AMS standards. The vessels will be operated under Signet Maritime’s ABS-certified International Safety Management (ISM) and ISO 9001-2008 Quality Management Systems. In addition, these vessels are the first EPA Tier 3, EU Stage IIIA, and IMO Marine Tier III vessels to be built and operated in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.