Kirby Offshore News

Danish offshore services company Maersk Supply Service has won its second offshore wind installation contract in the U.S. The company, best known for its offshore support vessels, in March ordered a wind turbine installation vessel, and won its first contract with Equinor and BP to install turbines at the Empire Wind project in the U.S.Now, Maersk Supply Service has won a deal to install the wind turbines at the Beacon Wind farm off the U.S. East Coast, also for a joint venture between Equinor and BP. The installation of Beacon Wind is expected to start in 2028.

The American Bureau of Shipping said Monday that the recently ordered wind turbine Installation vessel Sembcorp Marine is building for Maersk Supply Service would be built to ABS Class.Maersk Supply Service's vessel will be capable of handling the latest generation 15MW turbines, and will be deployed for Equinor and BP’s Empire Wind project offshore the U.S.Two new feeder barges and two diesel-electric hybrid tugboat units, which will also support Empire Wind, will also be built to ABS Class by Kirby Offshore Wind (KOW)…

Empire Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Equinor and bp, awarded a contract to Maersk Supply Service for charter of its newbuild wind installation vessel (WIV). This vessel, together with US constructed barges and tugs built and operated by Kirby Offshore Wind, will be used for the installation of the project’s Vestas V236-15MW turbines.The newbuild offshore wind turbine installation vessel is planned to be ready for operation for Empire Wind I and II in the mid-2020s. Maersk…

McAllister Towing LNG Services, LLC will serve as technical manager for the Polaris New Energy LNG bunkering operation in Florida, operating the Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) Polaris/Clean Canaveral for Polaris New Energy. “We are excited to work with McAllister Towing because, as one of the oldest marine transportation companies in the US, they bring a tradition for providing unsurpassed operational excellence," said Tom Sullivan, COO, Seaside LNG Holdings, the parent company of Polaris New Energy.

Marcon International has announced to report the recent sales of the following two U.S. flag tugs as sellers continue to upgrade their fleets.The U.S. flag, 4,800 HP twin screw, flush-deck, articulated pusher tug “Java Sea” has been sold by Kirby Offshore Marine of Houston, Texas to private buyers. The tug was originally built by the well-respected Main Iron Works of Houma, Louisiana as the “Patriot” (Hull 360) - a 3,000 HP, EMD 12-645E6 powered, conventional twin screw tug with a raised 49.3’ height of eye pilothouse.

Kirby Corporation is a premier tank barge operator in the United States, transporting bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, along all three U.S. Coasts, and in Alaska and Hawaii. Kirby’s service includes the transporting of petrochemicals, black oil products, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemical products by tank barge. Kirby’s diesel engine services segment is a leading after-market service provider for medium-speed and high-speed diesel engines…

Private partnerships, executed perfectly – that’s West Coast boatbuilding in today’s challenging business climates. P3 Partnerships: no, we’re not talking about infrastructure funding. But, in our P3 version, boatbuilding in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska is alive and well, because of it. Long-standing enterprises and relative newcomers are all experiencing an uptick in projects. Here, as part of our annual MN100 top company profiles, we take a look at how three organizations have either merged and/or partnered with complementary companies to expand skills…

AWO Pushes VIDA as the solution to the confusing patchwork of federal and state regulations that makes compliance unnecessarily complicated and costly. Even as the ballast water treatment issue becomes more and more confusing – both here and abroad – a united coalition of maritime stakeholders has expressed strong support for S.373, also known as amendment number 3170 (for the current energy bill). The law, known simply as the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), would establish a nationally uniform and environmentally sound standard for ballast water and other vessel discharges, in lieu of the current overlapping patchwork of federal and state regulations that makes compliance complicated, confusing and costly.

Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (Nichols Boats), located in Freeland, Wash., recently completed the M/V Nancy Peterkin, a 136’ x 44’ x 23’, 10,000 HP ATB Tug for Kirby Offshore Marine (Kirby), located in Houston, Texas. The Nancy Peterkin, built for Kirby Offshore Marine, was designed by Guarino & Cox using a round bridge hull form for optimum sea keeping and propulsive efficiency, the builder said. She is to couple into a 185,000 barrel barge built at Gunderson Marine in Portland, Oregon. This vessel will handle barges in full-ocean service.

Independent naval architecture and marine engineering design consultancy BMT Nigel Gee (BMT) said it has completed detailed production engineering for the Nancy Peterkin, an articulated tug barge (ATB) tugboat, built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) and destined for Kirby Offshore Marine. Recently launched by NBBB, the Nancy Peterkin is the first of two ATB tugs with its sister ship, the Tina Pyne scheduled for launch in December 2015. Providing both structural and mechanical detailed design services as part of the production engineering process was BMT…

Jensen Maritime, Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering company, was recently selected to provide the ABS Class and functional designs for two, new 120-foot twin screw tugboats for Ice Flow, LLC dba Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) and Kirby Offshore Marine, LLC. “Jensen is proud to have been chosen as the design firm on this project and looks forward to seeing the vessels through from concept to completion,” said Johan Sperling, vice president, Jensen Maritime. The two, 120-foot long, 35-foot wide tugboats, which will be used for tow operations, will be powered by two Caterpillar 3516C, 2447 BHP at 1600 rpm main engines with Reintjes reduction gears turning two NautiCAN fixed-pitch propellers with fixed nozzles.

Ice Floe, LLC dba Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) informs it has received orders for the construction of two new 120’ x 35’ x 19’-3” Twin Screw Tugboats for Kirby Offshore Marine, LLC. Keels will be laid for both vessels this fall, with delivery of the first vessel scheduled for May 2017 and the second vessel is scheduled for delivery in November 2017. Upon delivery, the new vessels will be used for tow operations. According to the builder, each of the new 120’ x 35’ x 19’-3” tugboats will be powered by two Caterpillar 3516C, 2,447 BHP at 1,600 rpm main engines with Reintjes reduction gears turning two NautiCAN fixed pitched propellers with fixed nozzles. These vessels will also have two C7.1 Caterpillar generators for electrical service.

A newly built articulated tug barge (ATB) unit tugboat, was launched for Kirby Offshore Marine on Wednesday, September 2. The new vessel, the 136’ x 44’ x 19’ Nancy Peterkin, is the first of two sister vessels built for Kirby by Ice Floe, LLC dba Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB). The Tina Pyne is also being built at NBBB and is scheduled for launch in December 2015. The builder said it made use of a new track and dolly system to move Nancy Peterkin from the shipyard to the launch ramp.

The year 2015 has been a busy year for The American Waterways Operators, the national trade association for the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, and for the industry AWO is privileged to represent. It’s a dynamic time for a vital industry that constitutes the largest segment of the U.S. domestic fleet, as companies throughout the industry are investing heavily to meet evolving customer needs; the industry stands on the verge of historic regulatory change; and AWO pursues an active public policy agenda to support members’ needs for predictable and practicable government policy.

The members of the American Waterways Operators (AWO), the national trade association representing the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, elected a new slate of leaders during its Spring Convention held recently in Washington, D.C. David G. Sehrt, Senior Vice President and Chief Engineering Officer of Ingram Barge Company, was elected Chairman, succeeding outgoing Chairman Frank Morton, Director, Turn Services LLC. James F. Farley, President of Kirby Offshore Marine, LLC, was elected Vice Chairman.

A group of industry professionals from the commercial maritime sector gathered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on March 28 to participate in Murray & Associates LLC’s 2015 Fishing Challenge. The naval architect and marine engineering group hosted the tournament for the fourth consecutive year as a way to gather clients and maritime business professionals for a day of fishing on Florida’s beautiful waters, while also collecting money for charity. This year’s event raised more than $5,000 for the Seafarers House.

Ice Floe, LLC dba Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) has been contracted by the Government of American Samoa to build a multipurpose vessel to operate in the warm waters of the South Pacific primarily between Pago Pago and the Manu’a Islands, however the vessel will also be certified to travel to Tonga, Fiji and U.S. territory Islands to support the economic development of American Samoa. NBBB has contracted Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) to provide the functional design and production engineering for the project.

Ice Floe, LLC dba Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) has been contracted by Vigor Industrial to construct the superstructure portion of the third Olympic Class 144-Car Washington State Ferry the M/V Chimacum. Nichols Brothers completed the superstructures for the first and second WSF 144-Car Ferry vessels delivered to Vigor for final assembly in March and December 2013. Nichols Brothers is responsible for construction of the grand block section of the vessel including the upper car decks, exhaust stacks and pilothouses. Additional work has been awarded to NBBB including all superstructure piping, windows, stairs, ladders, all exterior hand rails and completely painting the interior and exterior.

At the 151st Annual Meeting of the Members of ABS, and the subsequent meeting of the ABS Council, industry leaders were elected to serve on a number of bodies that contribute to the operation of the classification society as it fulfills its mission of promoting the security of life and property and preserving the natural environment. "ABS' strength as a global classification society is drawn from its membership and the many regional, national and technical committees that contribute to the process of developing practical, impartial and authoritative standards," said ABS Chairman Robert D. Somerville. •    Robert G. •    James G. •    Maria F. •    Chow Yew Yuen, Keppel Offshore & Marine USA Inc. •    Dr. Jen-Hwa Chen, Chevron Shipping Co. •    Dr.

Cape Fear federal pilot launches its first pilot boat and welcomes its latest customer, US Shipping Corp. After years of using a hired launch vessel for boarding ATB's, tugs and ships at the entrance to the Cape Fear River, the Cape Fear Federal Pilots recently launched its first pilot vessel. River pilot Tony McNeill, who operates the pilotage service for the Port of Wilmington NC for U.S. The boat is Boston Whaler Challenger that Tony has had for a couple of years but has waited for the appropriate time to put it to work. Pilot McNeill informs that In addition to the new boat, U.S.

With a family of three yards located along the Gulf of Mexico in Alabama, Mississippi and Texas, Signal International offers new construction, rig and ship repair, offshore and technical services. Marine construction and repair needs are complimented by three dry docks; a 30,000-ton lift rig dock, a 22,000-ton Panamax dry dock and a 4,500-ton lift dry dock. In Mobile, Ala., Signal Ship Repair (SSR) offers 4,400 ft. of water front along the Mobile River with a maintained channel depth of 44 ft. This facility specializes in ship repair and conversion.

The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. announced that its Gunderson Marine division has received an order from Kirby Offshore Marine to build an articulated oceangoing oil and chemical tank barge, with an option for a second unit, to meet growing demand. The state-of-the-art 578' tank barge is one of the largest in Gunderson’s marine history, and has an 185,000 barrel carrying capacity. This order, along with awards being finalized, will bring Greenbrier’s current marine backlog to about $70 million. Construction on the Kirby barge will begin in June 2014, with completion scheduled in 2015. The outlook for transportation of goods by oceangoing barge is strong, and Greenbrier, through Gunderson Marine, said it is well-positioned to meet new barge demand.

Brokers Marcon International were in attendance and inform of the launch of the 300’ x 100’ x 20’ heavy deck cargo barge “Prometheus” (Hull No. 104) built and designed by Gunderson Marine, Portland, Oregon, for Ulysses LLC. The new barge was christened by Mimsy Huger Lindner and promptly and safely launched to the sound of the swirling bagpipes of the Clan Macleay Pipe Band. “Prometheus” is a double raked ABS +A1 Barge with recessed bitts, a parabolic bow rake and about a 29,572ft2 clear deck.