Antonio Valdes News

The M/T Polar Discovery made its maiden voyage to Port Freeport on Wednesday, September 3. The Polar Discovery is classed by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and joins two sister ships, Polar Endeavour and Polar Resolution, in the ConocoPhillips U.S. flag fleet carrying crude oil from Alaska to the West Coast and Hawaii. Port Freeport Chairman of the Board Thomas S. Perryman presented Captain Dan Ellison with a maiden voyage plaque after a vessel tour given by ConocoPhillips’ marine division. “We are committed to operating and maintaining the safest and most environmentally sound vessels available,” said Antonio Valdes, general manager of ConocoPhillips’ marine division. Endeavour Class vessels have double hulls with 10 ft.

Seahorse Shuttling and Technology LLC, a wholly owned entity of Conoco, has completed the functional design of a new tanker for shuttling crude oil from the deepwater Gulf of Mexico to shore. double-hulled "GoMAX 550(TM)" shuttle tanker will be capable of transporting 550,000 barrels of crude oil. With a 40-foot draft, the new shuttle tanker will be able to enter most ports in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. "A major challenge of producing new crude oil discoveries in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico has been developing efficient means of transportation to U.S. refineries," said Antonio Valdes, manager of Conoco Marine. The GoMAX 550(TM) design is the result of a shipbuilding alliance between Conoco, Alabama Shipyard of Mobile, Ala., and Samsung Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries of South Korea.

Conoco is building four new towboats with innovative safety, environmental and design improvements that set new standards for the inland towing industry. "We are raising the bar for towboat design, machinery and marine systems by constructing American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) class boats," said Karen Stacey, director of Conoco domestic marine. Contrary to the name, towboats actually "push" cargo barges along the Intracoastal Waterway and major rivers. The new towboats, being built by Orange Shipbuilding of Orange, Texas, will have safety enhancements such as CO2 extinguishing systems, fuel shutdowns, fire detection systems and fire fighting systems.

Conoco is building four new towboats that purportedly offer innovations in safety, environmental interaction, as well as design improvements that Conoco claims will set new standards for the inland towing industry. "We are raising the bar for towboat design, machinery and marine systems by constructing American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) class boats," said Karen Stacey, director of Conoco domestic marine. The new vessels, being built by Orange Shipbuilding of Orange, Texas, will have safety enhancements such as CO2 extinguishing systems, fuel shutdowns, fire detection systems and fire fighting systems. Environmental upgrades will include main propulsion engines that are compliant with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards.

Later this month, ConocoPhillips will christen a new towboat and, in the process, set higher standards for safety, environmental and design improvements within the inland towing industry. Antonio Valdes, general manager of ConocoPhillips’ marine division says, the new towboat is more capable and efficient, as well as reinforce environmental awareness. The ceremony christening Spirit which received classification from the American Bureau Of Shipping (ABS) will be held at Brady’s Landing in Pasedena, Texas, on January 30 at 10 a.m. Three additional towboats, Integrity, Liberty, Innovator, will be christened in March. The name of the first towboat to be christened is directly attributed to the company’s corporate values.

Conoco, Inc's Domestic Marine Division, Houston, Texas has taken delivery of the first of four 75-ft. by 30-ft. by 10-ft. towboats that feature design, safety and environmental improvements over existing vessels working the inland waterways and the ICWW. Conoco, Inc., merged with Phillip Petroleum Company on August 30, 2002 to form ConocoPhillips a company with $75 billion in assets. The Conoco Marine Division has seven towboats and 14 barges. These 2,000 hp twin-screw vessels are being built by Orange Shipbuilding, Orange, Texas, a division of Conrad Industries of Morgan City, La. and will replace older vessels. "We are raising the bar for towboat design…