Ocean Class Tugs News

Crowley Maritime Corp.’s offshore services group has delivered Shell’s Appomattox semi-submersible Floating Production System (FPS) to the open waters of the U.S. Gulf from Kiewit Offshore Services' construction facility in Ingleside, Texas.Making the tow-out possible were Crowley’s Ocean Sky and Ocean Sun tugboats, which worked together on behalf of customer Heerema, alongside other third-party assets to deliver Appomattox.Demonstrating both nearshore and offshore capabilities, the company’s ocean class tugs safely towed the FPS through the Aransas Channel, then disconnected and provided escort services to the deep-water installation site.

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced it has restructured its business units as the company aims to increase its focus on government-related business and better align vessel operations and fuel distribution services. Over the coming months, the 125-year-old company will transition its non-liner and logistics business units into three main service lines: Crowley Shipping, Crowley Fuels and Crowley Solutions. “This plan facilitates a pivot towards growing the company’s government portfolio of work…

Crowley Maritime Corp.’s ocean class tugboats and 455-series high-deck strength barges recently played an integral role in the tow-out and installation of Hess’ Stampede tension-leg platform (TLP) in the deep waters of the U.S. Gulf. Demonstrating both nearshore and offshore capabilities, six Crowley vessels worked together alongside other third-party assets to deliver the oversized, overweight platform, tendons and other equipment from the Kiewit facility in Ingleside, Texas, to the site of the Stampede floating production facility, about 150 miles offshore in 3,400 feet of water.

As part of the company's new vessel build program, Crowley Maritime Corp. christened the latest of its four tugboats in the ocean class series, Ocean Sun, today in Lake Charles. The ceremony served to formally welcome the fourth dynamic positioning 2 (DP2) tugboat to the company’s expanded ocean towing fleet, which has been involved in most of the major offshore oil production installations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico over the past 18 months. Todd Busch, senior vice president and general manager of Crowley’s solutions group, opened the ceremony to approximately 80 guests.

Once again displaying their diversity for use in the domestic petroleum industry, one of Crowley’s four ocean class tugs, Ocean Sky, recently provided back-up station-keeping and holdback services during a routine blackout test of ultra-deepwater, semisubmersible oil rig Noble Jim Day in U.S. Gulf of Mexico. This Shell-leased, Noble-owned rig is currently operating in about 9,600 feet of water in the 508 section of Walker Ridge as part of the Stones Prospect. As part of routine blackout testing…

Crowley Maritime Corp. said that the third of four tugboats in the Ocean-class series, Ocean Sky, has been christened in Houston. The ceremony served to formally welcome the third dynamic positioning (DP) tugboat to the company’s expanded ocean towing fleet, which has been involved in most of the major offshore oil production installations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico over the past 16 months. Todd Busch, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Crowley’s solutions group, opened the ceremony to approximately 140 guests. Following an introduction of the tug’s crew members and a blessing of the vessel by Father Sinclair Oubre, Jennifer Legg, Crowley’s assistant treasurer and vessel sponsor, broke the ceremonial bottle of champagne across the hull of the boat.

Crowley Maritime Corp. inform that its ocean class tugs have successfully delivered oversized, overweight equipment – comprised of topsides, tendons, piles and more – that are now part of a massive semi-submersible floating production facility located in the U.S. Gulf, approximately 280 miles south of New Orleans, La. Working alongside the tugs were Crowley’s 455 series high-deck-strength barges, which carried much of the equipment as it was towed offshore. Utilizing the Crowley tugs’ dynamic positioning capabilities, the facility, known as Jack/St.

On the heels of the recent delivery of Olympus, the largest tension-leg platform ever to be developed for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Crowley has once again shown support for the domestic petroleum industry by providing ocean towing and positioning support services for the Lucius spar in the Gulf of Mexico for Anadarko Petroleum. Three of Crowley’s ocean class tugs, Ocean Wind, Ocean Wave and Ocean Sun, towed the 605-foot long, 110-foot wide spar from Corpus Christi, Texas, through the Ingleside Channel and out to Keathley Canyon Block 875 some 300 miles offshore.

Lockport, La.-based Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. is humming with work from oil and gas companies and government agencies. Family-owned and operated, Bollinger has 10 shipyards -- nine in south Louisiana and one in Texas -- along with 28 drydocks and 3,000 employees in four administrative locations. Last month, we caught up with Ben Bordelon, Bollinger’s Executive Vice President of Repair, for his outlook on the firm and the Gulf of Mexico. Bordelon is the nephew of Boysie Bollinger, who has been at the helm as CEO since 1985.

Four of Crowley Maritime Corp’s ocean class tugboats , the 'Ocean Wind', 'Ocean Wave', 'Ocean Sky' and 'Ocean Sun', recently completed the successful delivery of the offshore oil production and drilling platform, Olympus, to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The project was significant because it provided the first opportunity for all four of the company's new high-bollard-pull, ocean class tugboats to work together on any single job. The rig, owned by Royal Dutch Shell, is also considered the largest tension-leg platform ever to be developed for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

Bollinger Shipyards have delivered the DP 2 classed 'Ocean Sky', the fourth of four Ocean-class tugs for Crowley Maritime Corporation. The first two Ocean Class vessels, the Ocean Wave and Ocean Wind, classed as DP1, were delivered in Q4 2012. Ocean Sky, sister vessel to the Ocean Sun, was delivered in May 2013. At 156 feet in length, the Ocean Sky and Ocean Sun are 10 feet longer than the first two vessels and are rated at 10,880 HP. The vessels are outfitted for long-range, high-capacity ocean towing…

The third of four Ocean Class Tugs has been delivered to Crowley from Bollinger Marine Fabricators. The Ocean Sun is DP 2, measures 156 feet in length and is rated at 10,880 HP. The vessel is outfitted for long-range, high-capacity ocean towing, rig moves, platform and floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit tows, emergency response and firefighting. Sister ship Ocean Sky is preparing for sea-trials, and a summer 2013 delivery. Bollinger delivered the Ocean Class DP 1 designed Ocean Wave and Ocean Wind  4Q 2012.

Crowley Maritime Corporation recently welcomed a new addition to its American-made and operated  fleet of petroleum tank vessels, the 750-class articulated tug-barge (ATB) Legend/750-2. The milestone came exactly five years after Crowley first announced plans to build the 750-class, which is considered one of largest, fastest and safest in the industry. The latest vessel is the second of three in the class, and will transport petroleum products – including gasoline – along the U.S. West, Gulf and East Coasts.

Crowley Maritime Corporation christen 'Ocean Wave' & 'Ocean Wind' built at Bollinger Shipyards, based in Amelia, La. USA. The new tugboats were designed by Crowley subsidiary Jensen Maritime located in New Orleans. At 146 and 156 feet in length, and with a minimum bollard pull of 150 metric tons, Crowley’s new ocean class tugs will be outfitted for long-range, high-capacity ocean towing, rig moves, platform and floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit tows, emergency response and firefighting.

Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., Amelia, La., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered the Ocean Wave, the first of four “Ocean” class tugs, to Crowley Maritime Corporation. “We are extremely proud of our Ocean Class team and the delivery of the first in class tug, Ocean Wave, said Chris Bollinger, executive vice president of Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. The Ocean Wave is the first of the Ocean class tugs and is the first of two 10,880 BHP tugs that are featured with DP1 capabilities.

Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., Amelia, La., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered the OCEAN WAVE, the first of four “Ocean” class tugs, to Crowley Maritime Corporation. “We are extremely proud of our Ocean Class team and the delivery of the first in class tug, OCEAN WAVE, said Chris Bollinger, executive vice president of Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. The OCEAN WAVE is the first of the Ocean class tugs and is the first of two 10,880 BHP tugs that are featured with DP1 capabilities.

All U.S. Coasts enjoying upswing in business. For many U.S. builders, last year closed on a happier note than 2010 – when the BP spill, offshore drilling ban and weak U.S. and global economies hurt business. In 2011, new orders for vessels for the oil industry and for the U.S. and foreign governments promised to keep a number of builders busy in 2012. A need to comply with new federal regulations created work, and repair activity grew. The upshot is that coastal economies are getting a needed boost. But some companies find themselves with more customers than they can immediately handle.

Ed Schlueter will retire on December 31, 2011, after 35 years with Crowley. He started with the company as a Port Engineer (Hull) in Seattle and is currently Vice President, Vessel Management Services, Inc. (VMSI). Over the years, Ed has held numerous positions, including Engineering Project Manager, Manager of Engineering, and Director of Engineering. He has lived in Seattle, Jacksonville, Copenhagen and California. Ed has been involved with and overseen the delivery of nearly 70 new building projects at Crowley.

Crowley Maritime Corporation's vessel construction boom is continuing with its recent order of two additional high-bollard-pull Ocean Class tugboats from Bollinger Shipyards. The latest contract brings the number of new 10,880-horsepower tugs being constructed for Crowley to four, and adds to the more than $1b the company is investing in new tugs, high-capacity barges and articulated tug barge tank vessels (ATBs). The new tugs, Ocean Sun and Ocean Sky, will join the Ocean Wave and Ocean Wind in the Crowley fleet over the next two-and-a-half years. Ideally suited to work with Crowley's new 455 series heavy deck strength barges…

Jensen Maritime Consultants Inc. has been selected by Bollinger Shipyards Inc. to complete the final design drawings and specifications for two new 10,880-horsepower, high-bollard-pull, ocean-going tugboats. The tugs are the beginning of a new-build program at Crowley Maritime Corporation to further enhance its ocean towing, salvage and offshore support capabilities. The Ocean Wave and Ocean Wind will have a minimum bollard pull of 150 metric tons and a range of approximately 12,600 nautical miles at 15 knots free running.