Tug Services News

Gulf LNG Tugs of Brownsville has ordered four new tugs to serve the Rio Grande LNG export facility (RGLNG), which has commenced construction in Brownsville, Texas.Gulf LNG Tugs is a joint venture formed between Bay-Houston Towing Co., Moran Towing Corporation and Suderman & Young Towing Company to provide tug services for RGLNG under a long-term tug services agreement.The company announced Tuesday it signed construction contracts with Coden, Ala. shipyard Master Boat Builders and Port Neches, Texas shipbuilder Sterling Shipyard.

There’s no energy shortage when it comes to projects promoting the viability of alternatively fueled marine vessels (alt-fueled vessels).Consider just a few examples:Crowley Maritime Corp will take delivery in 2023 of an electric tugboat, dubbed eWolf, built by Master Boat Builders in Coden, Ala.The Hydrogen One towboat, using methanol-to-hydrogen technology, is being developed by its owner Maritime Partners.Master Boat Builders and Robert Allan Ltd. announced last fall the creation of a new battery hybrid, the ElectRA 3000-H, designed for U.S.

Turkish tugboat builder, towage and pilotage operator Med Marine said it has signed a deal with Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to build and deliver a new 42-meter tugboat for the Port of Mombasa.The vessel is scheduled to enter service in East Africa’s largest port in 2021 as part of the KPA’s equipment modernization and maintenance program aiming to enhance efficiency at the port.The vessel design is from the RAstar ASD tug series by Canada’s Robert Allan Ltd. The new RAstar 4200 with a bollard pull of 120 metric tons, ranking it among the most powerful tugs Robert Allan Ltd.

The female dynasty of Vidalia Dock and Storage are no strangers to the Murky Mississippi, nor the advantage of a Mitsubishi powered vessel. When it came to repowering the Sonny J., Vidalia Dock knew right where to go.Purchased in early 2018, the vessel was fitted with a pair of 600HP Cummins K19 engines. With the goal of EPA Tier compliance and engine reliability, Laborde Products provided two fully mechanical Mitsubishi S6R-Y3MPTAW Tier III engines for the 65x24 vessel; these engines are rated 684HP @1800RPM each with Twin Disc 7:1 transmissions.

International law firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised three leading Italian shipowners -Rimorchiatori Mediterranei, Gesmar and Fratelli Neri – on their partnership agreement with Thessaloniki-based Greek maritime operator Gigilinis Shipping Group. The deal closed on 29 November. The deal represents a strategic milestone in Italian ship owners’ expansion into the Greek and broader Eastern Mediterranean markets, most notably into the key port of Thessaloniki. Rimorchiatori Mediterranei is the leading player in the harbour towage sector in Italy, and number two in the Mediterranean, operating a modern fleet of more than 100 tugs and other units, equipped with advanced technology. In 2016 it generated revenues of around €110m.

After completing its sea trials, AUDAX, the third dual fuel tug ever built in Europe, has been delivered to its owner, the Norwegian company Østensjø Rederi A/S. The first tug of this kind built in Europe, DUX, was delivered by the company last May, and the second one, PAX, was delivered in July. Designed by Canadian company Robert Allan Ltd. these state-of-the-art vessels, with 40.2 meters length and 16 meters beam, will provide tug services to Norwegian state-owned energy company Statoil, at the far-north terminal located at Melkøya under severe weather conditions.

After completing its sea trials program, Pax, the second dual fuel tug ever built in Europe, has been delivered to its owner, the Norwegian company Østensjø Rederi A/S. The first tug of this kind built in Europe, Dux, was delivered by the company last May. The vessel is the first tugboat of a series of three. Built by Spanish shipbuilder Gondan and designed by Canadian company Robert Allan Ltd. the new escort tug, with 40.2 meters length and 16 meters beam, will provide tug services to Norwegian state-owned energy company Statoil…

After completing its sea trials program, DUX, the first dual fuel tug ever built in Europe, was delivered yesterday to its owner, the Norwegian company Østensjø Rederi A/S. This vessel is the first tugboat of a series of three. Designed by the Canadian company Robert Allan Ltd., the new escort tug, with 40.2 meters length and 16 meters beam, will provide tug services to Norwegian state-owned energy company Statoil, at the far-north terminal located at Melkøya under severe weather conditions.

Commissioner William P. Doyle Votes to reject joint contracting authority for Ro/Ro foreign carriers to negotiate collectively for U.S.-Flag tug services. Doyle's Statement, shown below, says new rules go beyond the scope of the Shipping Act and shipping practices harmful to U.S. Today, I voted to disapprove the roll-on roll-off (Ro/Ro) WLL/Eukor/ARC/Glovis Cooperative Working Agreement amendment involving Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics AS (WWL), Eukor Car Carriers Inc. (Eukor), American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier LLC (ARC), and Hyundai Glovis Co. Ltd. (Glovis) (collectively Parties). This amendment filed with the Federal Maritime Commission seeks to broaden the authority of the Parties to jointly solicit bids for contracts covering the provision of tug services…

The third dual fueled tug ever built in Europe – the last of a series of three currently under construction at Gondan for the Norwegian shipowner Østensjø Rederi – has been launched at Gondan Shipyard in Figueras. The launching event was attended by representatives from the ship owner, from the charterer of the vessels – Statoil – and from the Canadian designer Robert Allan Ltd. This new escort tug, with 40.2 meters length and 16 meters beam, will provide tug services to Norwegian state-owned energy company Statoil, at the far-north terminal located at Melkøya. Built to withstand freezing cold, the vessel is shaped specifically to grant…

Today at Gondan Shipyard in Figueras, at high tide, the second Dual Fuel tug ever built in Europe – and the second of a series of three currently under construction for the Norwegian shipowner Østensjø Rederi - has been successfully launched. Designed by the Canadian company Robert Allan, the new escort tug, with 40.2 meters length and 16 meter beam, will provide tug services to Norwegian state-owned energy company Statoil, at the far-north terminal located at Melkøya. Built to withstand freezing cold, the vessel is shaped specifically to grant full operational availability at temperatures of 20ºC below zero and combines environmental sustainability trough the use of LNG in most of its operations, with the flexibility of diesel power to ensure a high level of operational security.

Gondan Shipyard in Figueras launched the first Dual Fuel tug ever built in Europe – and the first of a series of three currently under construction for the Norwegian shipowner Østensjø Rederi. Designed by Robert Allan, the new escort tug measures 40.2 x 16m, beam, and will provide tug services to Norwegian state-owned energy company Statoil, at the far-north terminal located at Melkøya. Built to withstand freezing cold, the vessel is shaped specifically to grant full operational…

Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of ports and Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad) in the Emirate, has renamed its subsidiary, Abu Dhabi Marine Services, as ‘SAFEEN’ –meaning ships in Arabic- in a bid to rebrand itself. The announcement was followed closely by the brand winning the prestigious International Safety Management (ISM) certification from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Further, as part of expanding its fleet and improving services, SAFEEN  has added a new tug boat named ‘MAQTAA’ to its existing fleet of five tugs, five pilot boats, six  speed boats, one buoy maintenance boat and two oil spill response boats. The company plans to acquire three more tug boats by the end of 2016.

BHP Billiton has approved $240 million (BHP Billiton share) to purchase six additional tugs and construct a new eight pen Tug Harbour at Hunt Point in the Port Hedland Port. The investment will also include the upgrade of workshop facilities, operational and service berths and two small boat moorings at the existing Nelson Point Tug Harbour. BHP Billiton Iron Ore President, Jimmy Wilson, said, “The project will mitigate the risk of a channel blockage by ensuring the continued safe escort of vessels in and out of the Port Hedland Inner Harbour. The new Tug Harbour improves upon previous designs with the facility requiring minimal dredging and marine-based infrastructure and having less environmental and visual impact.

BHP Billiton said on Tuesday it will spend $240 million upgrading its marine iron ore facilities in Western Australia. The funds will be used to purchase six tug boats and build a new tug harbor in the Port Hedland Port, with construction due to be completed in the September 2016 quarter. BHP is expected to show it shipped a record 250 million tonnes of iron ore through the port in fiscal 2015. when it releases its year-end operations report on Wednesday. "This project will enable BHP Billiton to safely meet projected demand for tug services and effectively manage shipping risk for all users of the Port Hedland Port," BHP iron ore division head Jimmy Wilson said in a statement.

BHP Billiton plans to construct a new eight pen tug harbour at Hunt Point in Port Hedland, as well as purchase six additional tugs, for $US240 million ($A326 million). The investment will also include an upgrade of workshop facilities, operational and service berths and two small boat moorings at the existing Nelson Point tug harbour. The project is expected to create up to 200 jobs in Port Hedland during construction phase. BHP is expected to show it shipped a record 250 million tonnes of iron ore through the port in fiscal 2015 when it releases its year-end operations report on Wednesday. "This project will enable BHP Billiton to safely meet projected demand for tug services and effectively manage shipping risk for all users of the Port Hedland Port…

Woods Hole Group will be working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services for the operation and maintenance of Physical Oceanographic Real Time System along the East Coast of the USA, and along the Gulf of Mexico coast in Texas and Louisiana. NOAA PORTS® is a network of sensors in ports and harbors providing access to information improving maritime commerce and safety. * Houston-Galveston, TX (http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ports/index.html?port=hg) Woods Hole Group also was awarded the five year Operation and Maintenance Contract to support four NOAA National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON) stations in Texas.

Towage charges at Darwin, Australia, will increase by 2.9% for A Class Tug services, and 5.8% for C Class Tug services from 1 August. [email protected]

Tug company operator Seaspan and GUILD (the union representing captains, mates and engineers) have agreed to enter blind arbitration. GAC reported in its daily Hot Port News report. Seaspan will defer the imposition of new terms and GUILD will not take a strike vote. The situation is different, however, with the International Longshoremen Workers' Union (ILWU) representing deckhand and cook. Seaspan has withdrawn the contract imposition. The ILWU, which had voted in favor of strike action, has suspended further action. The union has not agreed to blind arbitration.

BHP Billiton said on Wednesday it may seek government intervention to avert industrial action by tugboat workers at the Port Hedland iron ore port that threatens to disrupt hundreds of millions of dollars in exports. "It's highly likely we would do that," Jimmy Wilson, president of BHP's iron ore division, told reporters amid a long-running dispute between union workers and port services operator Teekay Shipping, which charges BHP a fee for operating tug services. BHP also called the union's demands on pay and working conditions "unreasonable". Australia's government has intervened in industrial disputes before. In 2011, the Fair Work Australia commission stepped in to end a long-running dispute between Qantas and three unions when the airline grounded its fleet…

Commissioner William P. Doyle of the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has voted in favor of the amended G6 Alliance Agreement. Commissioner Doyle highlighted the U.S.-Flag international trade, U.S. mariner jobs and environmental benefits. He also pointed out concerns on some language in the amendment on how the G6 Parties may handle discussions and agreements with tug operators. "I am in favor of not taking any further action to delay the implementation of the amended G6 Alliance Agreement that was filed with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC or Commission) on December 2, 2013.

Crowley inform that Scott Hoggarth has been promoted to vice president, West Coast harbor ship assist and tanker escort services. He has assumed new overall responsibilities for marine operations and engineering functions, as well as commercial results for Crowley’s tug services offered in major U.S. West Coast ports. Hoggarth has assumed new overall responsibilities for marine operations and engineering functions, as well as commercial results for Crowley’s tug services offered in major U.S. West Coast ports.

Flexible fuels, Bold designs ... Eastern Shipbuilding Group has arguably been one of the more progressive and aggressive U.S. builders of high-spec Offshore Service Vessels in recent years, winning a number of high-profile contracts for operators globally. Eastern recently delivered M/V HOS Red Dawn and christened M/V HOS Renaissance, both for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC. HOS Red Dawn (H201) – now delivered – was launched on February 15, 2013. HOS Red Rock (H202) was launched April 19, 2013, and is currently at Eastern completing final outfitting, regulatory and DP-2 trials.