Bollinger Completes Repowering, Modernization of M/V Florida
Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., has completed the conversion of the Crescent Towing tug, FLORIDA, from a single engine to a twin-engine boat with 4,000 HP. It is the first of eight Crescent Towing 105-foot sister ships to undergo the same major conversion at Bollinger’s Algiers (New Orleans) repair and conversion shipyard. The FLORIDA’s old engine was replaced with two Caterpillar 3512B engines coupled to Reintjes WAF 673 reduction gears driving 83-inch Bollinger stainless steel propellers. They were installed in 84-inch type 37 kort nozzles with stainless steel inner rings and leading and trailing edges. It has a 45° rudder angle for better maneuverability and its new power package is designed to generate 100,000 pounds or 50 tons of bollard pull.
MV Florida get new Cat Power at Bollinger
The Crescent Towing tug Florida undergoes sea trials on the Mississippi River at New Orleans following repowering from single screw to double screw and the replacement of her pilothouse with new equipment and greater visibility provided by new lower exhaust stacks. Florida is the first of eight Crescent tugs to receive the conversion at Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Algiers (New Orleans) shipyard. Bollinger Shipyards recently completed the conversion of the Crescent Towing tug, Florida, from a single engine to a twin-engine boat with 4,000-hp. It is the first of eight Crescent Towing 105-ft. sister ships to undergo the same major conversion at Bollinger's Algiers (New Orleans) repair and conversion shipyard.
The Efficient Tugboat: The Efficient Tug
In many ports across the country, competition among tugboat operators is intense. The combined Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach is one such competitive environment for tug operators. Three companies vie for business that includes about 6,000 ship arrivals a year. Many of the companies utilize new tractor tugs to guide these ship movements. Foss Maritime, Crowley Marine and Millennium Maritime operate over a dozen modern tugs. Any slight edge in efficiency gives one company a competitive edge. For example, Foss Maritime recently placed the Halter Marine-built Marshall Foss into service. The 6,200 hp tug measures 98 x 40 x 16 ft. "This vessel was purpose built as a harbor tug," said Barry Baldwin, business director for Foss Maritime. Baldwin is located in Long Beach.
