Black Oil Barge News

Lockport, La. - Bollinger Amelia Repair L.L.C, and Bollinger Algiers L.L.C., two Bollinger Shipyards Inc. facilities, have re-delivered the tank barge B. No. 230 and tug Ralph E. Bouchard to Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc. in Melville, N.Y. “We are pleased to announce the re-delivery of the ATB unit to Bouchard following a successful conversion, and regulatory updates at our two repair facilities,” said Bordelon. “Bouchard’s confidence in our ability to deliver quality workmanship from multiple facilities allowed us to complete the two projects simultaneously. The B. No.

Genesis Energy, L.P. has completed the previously announced acquisition of the black oil barge transportation business of Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. and its affiliates (FMT). The purchase price was $141 million plus customary adjustments. The acquired business is comprised of 30 barges (seven of which are being sub-leased under similar terms of an existing FMT lease) and 14 push/tow boats which transport heavy refined petroleum products, primarily serving refineries and storage terminals along the Gulf Coast, Intracoastal Canal and western river systems of the United States, including the Red, Ouachita and Mississippi Rivers.

Bollinger Gulf Repair L.L.C., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., shipyard, has completed the retrofit of a Bouchard Coastwise Management Co., tug and barge to an articulated (ATB) unit utilizing the Intercon Coupler System. The 446-foot, 125,000 BBL (barrel) black oil Barge B. No.175 which was renamed Barge B. No.275, was transformed from a single hull to double hull vessel to meet the requirements of OPA ‘90. Her stern was modified with the matching Intercon ladder to accept the bow of the 127-foot tug CAPT. FRED BOUCHARD, which was retrofitted with ram assemblies of the Intercon system.

Late last year was a high water mark of sorts in the Articulated Tug-Barge (ATB) business. In December, Crowley Maritime of Seattle, Wash. took delivery of their fourth ATB, featuring a 9,280 HP tug and a 155,000 barrel barge. Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, Wisc. built the barge. and the tug by sister company Marinette Marine, Manitowoc, Mich. At about the same time on the east coast K-Sea Transportation was taking delivery of their fourth ATB unit from Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, La. All four of these new units featured new 80,000-100,000 barrel barges and existing tugs fitted with the JAK coupler system. In 2004, ATB construction has slowed a bit, but several companies continue contracting for retrofitted and new ATB units.

Bouchard’s B.No. 225, sister hull to the announced newbuilds, B. No. 280 and B.No. 205, travels down the Mississippi River on her maiden voyage following delivery from Bollinger. Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. of Lockport, Louisiana and Bouchard Coastwise Management, Corp., Hicksville, N.Y., one of the largest operators of double hull articulated tug/barge (ATB) units in the United States, signed a contract for Bollinger to build two double-hull, ocean-going barges that meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA’90). These two additions will give Bouchard fourteen OPA’90 barges in their fleet. This addition to the Bollinger yards portfolio, will bring the delivered OPA’90 barge count to thirty-three when both units are delivered.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. of Lockport, La., and Bouchard Coastwise Management, Corp., Hicksville, N.Y., one of the largest operators of double hull articulated tug/barge (ATB) units in the United States, signed a contract for Bollinger to build two double-hull, ocean-going barges that meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA'90). These two additions will give Bouchard 14 OPA'90 barges in its fleet. This addition to the Bollinger yards portfolio, will bring the delivered OPA'90 barge count to 33 when both units are delivered. Following on the success of the recent Bollinger delivered ATB's, 110,000 barrel B. No.225 with tug Jane A. Bouchard and delivery of the 145,000 barrel B. No.242 with the tug Morton S.

Pictured is Bouchard’s B. No. 295 and Bouchard Girls, converted and retrofitted by Bollinger Gulf Repair and Bollinger Algiers, as an OPA’90 compliant ATB unit. Bollinger Gulf Repair, L.L.C. and Bollinger Algiers, L.L.C, two Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., shipyards, have completed the retrofit and conversion of a Bouchard Coastwise Management Co., barge and tug, respectfully, to an articulated tug and barge (ATB) unit utilizing the Intercon Coupler System. At Bollinger Gulf Repair, the 446-foot, black oil Barge B. No.195 which has been renamed Barge B. No.295, was transformed from a single hull to double hull vessel to meet the requirements of OPA'90. The B. No. 295 measures 468-foot x 85.5-foot x 38.1-foot, with sixteen (16) cargo tanks.

Bollinger Gulf Repair L.L.C., (BGR), a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., facility, has completed the retrofit and modifications of a Penn Maritime Inc. oceans tank barge to an OPA ‘90 compliant articulated unit. The 360-foot, 66,500 barrel black oil Barge POTOMAC arrived at Bollinger's New Orleans east facility and began the transformation from a single sided hull to double hull vessel with a new outer skin to meet the requirements of OPA '90. Her stern was modified and outfitted with the Beacon JAK connection system. The barges heating system received additional heating coils and a new 12 million BTU Vapower unit. A ballast system and a twelve-foot bow plug, along with an updated electrical system, were part of the conversions.

Following the delivery of Bouchard’s B. No. 280 from Bollinger Gretna and the delivery of the tug Rhea Bouchard from Bollinger Algiers, the ATB set sail for Texas and its first load of cargo bound for the U.S. West Coast. A Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered, B. No. 280, a double hull, 80,000 BBL oil tank barge built to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA’90), to Bouchard Coastwise Management, Corp., Hicksville, N.Y. Following the delivery of the B. No. 280, Bollinger announced the signing of the sister ship, B. No. 282. The B. No. 282 will also be built at Bollinger Gretna, along with the previously announced 110,000 BBL, B. No. 205, a black oil barge measuring 430-feet long, with a 79-foot beam and a depth of 34-feet.

Engineering and design work is underway at Bollinger Gulf Repair, New Orleans, for Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. third retrofit project tug and barge to an ATB unit utilizing the Intercon Coupler System. The 446-ft. 125,000 BBL black oil Barge B No. 175 will be transformed from a singe hull to a double hull vessel to meet the requirements of OPA 90, and the stern will be notched to accept the bow of the 127-ft. tug Capt. Fred Bouchard, which will be retrofitted with the ram assemblies of the Intercon system. New heating coils will be added to the barge’s existing Hot-Oil system and a new ballast system will be installed. A keel cooled Detroit Diesel 8V-71 generator set producing 99 kW will be installed in the tug as back up for powering the Intercon system main generator.

Construction of Articulated Tug Barge units (ATB) continues to occupy a prominent place in the order books of several shipyards. However the pace of current building and back ordered units is not as high as the 2000-2002 period. "It looks like we are in for a little 'breather' for a while," said Allen Craft, senior vice president of Intercontinental Engineering-Manufacturing Corporation, Kansas City, Mo. The company manufactures Intercon, one of the most popular couplers between the tug and the barge, which makes the ATB concept workable. "Vessel Management Services, a division of Crowley Maritime was a major driving force in this market when they had two different yards each built two ATBs with 9,280 hp tugs and 155,000 barrel barges using our couplers," Craft said.