Bay Houston News

KOTUG International, a marine services and towage provider based in the Netherlands, announced on Thursday it has concluded its acquisition of Kotug Seabulk Maritime (KSM), taking full ownership of the Caribbean marine towage business.KOTUG said it has acquired the interest of its joint venture partner, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based SEACOR Holdings via its Seabulk subsidiary KS Maritime Holdings, owner of the 50% share in KSM.Founded in 2017, KSM acts as the exclusive provider of maritime terminal support services for Buckeye Partners’ Bahamas Hub…

Gulf LNG Tugs of Texas has been selected to provide towage services for the Texas LNG export terminal to be constructed in the Port of Brownsville.Gulf LNG Tugs, a consortium of Suderman & Young Towing Company, Bay-Houston Towing, and Moran Towing Corporation, will build, deliver and operate tugboats under a long term agreement to assist LNG carriers arriving at the facility.Texas LNG will be a 4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal owned and managed by Glenfarne Energy Transition.

SEACOR Holdings Inc. announced it has concluded the sale of its Caribbean liner and logistics business SEACOR Container Lines LLC (“SEACOR Island Lines”) to King Ocean Services Ltd. The transaction includes all operations and assets.King Ocean specializes in marine transportation and logistics solutions to close to 50 destinations across the Caribbean and South and Central America out of their Port Everglades facilities in Ft Lauderdale, Fla.“For 40 years, King Ocean, a multi-generational…

Analysts and commentators are quick to point out that fossil fuels will power maritime equipment, and indeed dominate the fueling marketplace, well into the future. However, they will do so alongside new fuels, and new technologies, that will be introduced to the maritime sector in the coming years. In its September, 2023 report “Beyond the Horizon: View of the Emerging Energy Value Chains”, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) explains that, “During the recent 80th meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80)…

Bay-Houston Towing has inked a deal with Port Neches, Texas shipbuilder Sterling Shipyard to build multiple new tugs to serve the Texas Gulf Coast region.The new vessels will be Robert Allan Ltd. designed RAstar 3200-W ASD ship handling and escort tugs for berthing/unberthing large ships and providing escort and emergency response in exposed coastal areas with demanding sea states.“The addition of the RAstar 3200-W further diversifies our fleet and provides an extremely powerful…

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. based SEACOR Holdings Inc. announced it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its inland river transportation and logistics business to Ingram Barge Company LLC, a division of Nashville-based Ingram Marine Group.Part of the SEACOR family of businesses for over two decades, Inland River Transport Holdings LLC (SCF) includes more than 1,000 covered dry cargo hopper barges, eight 6,000-plus horsepower towboats and a network of terminal and fleeting infrastructure along the Mississippi River.“I am extremely pleased to enter this transaction with Ingram…

SEACOR Holdings said Monday it had agreed to sell its U.S. harbor towing operations and assets from its Seabulk subsidiary to two parties, E.N. Bisso & Son, Inc. and Bay-Houston Towing Co.The E.N. Bisso transaction includes 12 harbor towing vessels across ports in Florida and Alabama. Bay-Houston is acquiring eight vessels operating in Texas along the Sabine Neches Navigation District and in the Port of Lake Charles, La."E.N. Bisso and Bay-Houston are two industry-leading harbor towing providers supported by many decades of safe and reliable operations…

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.

Much has changed since Marine News’ 2022 shipbuilding report published in March last year, and business opportunities in certain market segments continue to grow. But the shipyards that are looking to cash in are still facing many of the same challenges.For example, many American shipyards and their partners throughout the shipbuilding supply chain are still finding it difficult to attract and retain the workers they need. If you’re a skilled craftsperson looking for a job in shipbuilding, you’re in luck, because there are plenty of openings at shipyards across the country.

Coden, Ala. shipbuilder Master Boat Builders has delivered the new tug Hayden Grace to Bay Houston Towing Co. for operations in Galveston, Texas.The new 85-foot-long vessel is the first in a series of three RApport 2600 tug designed by Canadian firm Robert Allan Ltd. ordered by Bay Houston Towing. The design team and the client worked to address operational challenges the vessel would face. Main features of this latest RApport design include compact size and shallow draft allowing it to operate in more confined waterways than previous Z-Tech vessels…

Master Boat Builders, Inc. on Wednesday announced that it will construct a fourth new tugboat for Bay Houston Towing Co. The Coden, Ala. shipbuilder currently has three tugs under construction of a different design for the Houston-based owner.Naval architect and marine engineering firm, Robert Allan Ltd. designed the tugboat, which will meet U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter-M regulations and will be classed through the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).The tugboat will have an overall length of 98’-6” feet, beam of 42’-5”, and produce a bollard pull of over 80 metric tons.

Among transportation planners, “resilience”, describing the ability to bounce back from adversities, both economic and other, has become a top consideration as we increasingly must “expect the unexpected.” The U.S. waterway system, covering the network of inland rivers and coastwise waterways, has seen a mix of good and not so good. As the 2020-2021 pandemic moves toward winding down, a recovery from the dismal 2020 is underway, but activity on the rivers is uneven. Ken Eriksen…

Bay-Houston Towing Co. in January took delivery of the final tug in a series of five ordered from Gulf Island Shipyards LLC in 2018.George M and its four sister vessels are Z-Tech 30-80 tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd. The series' first tug Mark E. Kuebler was delivered in 2019.Robert Allan Ltd. said the Z-Tech 30-80 design incorporates its unique RAstar series sponsoned hull form in the existing Z-Tech design, which enhances the tug's escort capabilities by generating more than 100 mt of steering force at 10 knots.Bay-Houston Towing Co.

“Mark E. Kuebler”, “Ted C. Litton” and “Connelly M”, the first three terminal and escort tugs of a total of ten being constructed at Gulf Island Fabrication in the United States were recently delivered to Bay Houston Towing Co. Each of the Robert Allan-designed tugs is equipped with two SCHOTTEL Rudderpropellers type SRP 510 FP. In addition, VULKAN’s Safeguard Basic driveline protection system issues early warning when intervention in the propulsion drive train is required.SCHOTTEL…

At the end of 2018, Gulf Island Shipyards completed the first of ten Z-Tech 30-80 tugs, five of which were ordered by Bay Houston Towing Company through its operator G & H Towing Company in Galveston, Texas. The Z-Tech 30-80 tug Mark E. Kuebler evolved from the previous Z-Tech 7500 design for the same owner. Once again, the design team and client worked seamlessly addressing operational challenges the vessel will face. A main feature of this latest Z-Tech is incorporating Robert Allan Ltd.’s unique RAstar series sponsoned hull form into the existing Z-Tech design.

Gulf Island Fabrication announced that its Shipyard Division has successfully delivered the M/V Mark E. Kuebler, a Z-Tech 30-80 Terminal/Escort Tug to Bay Houston Towing Company.The M/V Mark E. Kuebler was designed by Robert Allan Ltd of Vancouver, BC. and built at Gulf Island’s, Jennings, Louisiana facilities. The vessel will be operated by G&H Towing on behalf of Bay Houston Towing Company. Gulf Island is currently building nine (9) sister vessels that are at various stages of construction.The M/V Mark E.

Being based just across the open border between Canada and America since 1930, Robert Allan Ltd. has developed a deep understanding of the American market and just how our ship designs can be tailored to suit our neighbors’ requirements. America is unique in many ways. The current designs of American towing vessels are largely the result of domestically focused requirements not encountered elsewhere. As a result, Robert Allan Ltd. has had to learn to treat America as unique and not to assume means and methods used elsewhere will suit the U.S. market. A simple example is the use of the U.S.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. said it launched on August 15, 2016 the final vessel in a series of four Z-Tech Class Terminal & Escort Tugs being constructed for Suderman & Young Towing Company. The tug Poseidon is scheduled to be delivered later in 2016. The launch ceremony was held at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility and hosted by Patrick D’Isernia, Project Manager of Eastern, with employees and guests in attendance. He spoke about the dedication and hard work of all of ESG’s employees, making the series of tugs a success.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. launched the Escort Tug OCEANUS for Suderman & Young Towing Company on April 26, 2016. This series of Robert Allan, LTD. (RAL) designed Z-Tech 2400 Class Terminal & Escort Tugs is currently under construction at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility. The vessel is scheduled for delivery later in July 2016. The launch ceremony was held at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility and hosted by Joey D’Isernia, President of Eastern, with employees and guests in attendance. He spoke about the dedication and hard work of all of ESG’s employees, making the series of tugs a success. Father Roy Marien of St. John’s Catholic Church of Panama City blessed the vessel and Eastern’s own, accounting assistant Carol McMillin, had the honor of christening the vessel.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced the delivery of the Escort Tug ZYANA K for Bay-Houston Towing Co. on May 5, 2016. This series of Robert Allan, LTD. (RAL) designed Z-Tech 2400 Class Terminal & Escort Tugs is currently under construction at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility. The ZYANA K (ESG Hull #238) is the second in a series of four Z-Tech Class Terminal & Escort Tugs being constructed for Bay-Houston Towing Co. The H. DOUGLAS M (ESG Hull #236), the lead vessel in the series, delivered on February 5, 2016.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. has delivered the escort tug David B for Bay-Houston Towing Co. on June 15, 2016. David B (ESG Hull #239) is the third in a series of four Robert Allan, LTD. (RAL) designed Z-Tech 2400 Class terminal and escort tugs currently under construction at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility for Bay-Houston Towing Co. The lead vessel in the series, H. Douglas M (ESG Hull #236), was delivered on February 5, 2016. Eastern is also constructing another identical series of four tugs for Suderman & Young Towing Company.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. has launched Laura B, the final vessel in a series of four Robert Allan, LTD. (RAL) designed Z-Tech 2400 Class terminal and escort tugs built for Bay-Houston Towing Co. The Laura B is scheduled to deliver in 2016. The launch ceremony was on July 1, 2016 at the builder’s Nelson Street facility and hosted by Patrick D’Isernia, Project Manager at Eastern, with employees and guests in attendance. Deacon Tim Warner of St. John’s Catholic Church of Panama City, Fla.

On July 29, 2016, Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. delivered Oceanus (Hull# 240), the third in series of four identical Robert Allan, LTD. (RAL) designed Z-Tech 2400 Class Terminal & Escort Tugs built for Suderman & Young Towing Company at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility. The first two vessels of the series, Triton (Hull #235) and the Neptune (Hull #237), have already been delivered. Eastern is also constructing four tugs for Bay-Houston Towing Co. G&H Towing Company is the owners’ onsite representative and agent during the engineering…