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Seabulk Towing News

06 Feb 2024

Marine Towing of Tampa Acquires Seabulk Towing Assets from Bisso

(Photo: Marine Towing of Tampa)

Marine Towing of Tampa announced it is expanding its ship assist services to Florida's east coast following a deal with E.N. Bisso & Son to acquire towing assets formerly owned by SEACOR Holdings' Seabulk arm.In September 2023, SEACOR divested its U.S. harbor towing operations, selling to Bisso 12 tugs across ports in Florida and Alabama.Under a recently executed asset purchase agreement with Bisso, Marine Towing of Tampa acquired the Port Canaveral operations and assets from the SEACOR-Bisso deal and will operate them in Canaveral under a newly formed affiliate…

28 Dec 2023

Workboat Power: Alternatives Join Diesel to Power Current—and Future—Vessels

Crowley’s new electric tug eWolf is being built by Master Boat Builders for scheduled delivery in 2024. (Image: Crowley)

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)…

18 Oct 2023

Powering the North American Maritime Fuel Transition

(Photo: Harvey Gulf)

Offshore service vessels, along with workboats serving harbors and inland rivers, have embarked on an industry-wide voyage toward reduced emissions of greenhouse gasses. Professor Craig Philip, a faculty member with Vanderbilt University’s Center for Transportation and Operational Resilience (VECTOR) and former CEO of Ingram Barge Company, provides this context: “The Maritime Sector has long provided shippers with the most fuel-efficient and sustainable freight transport option…

08 Jun 2020

Alphatron Bridge Systems for Four Seabulk Tugs

(Photo: JRC / Alphatron Marine)

JRC / Alphatron Marine said it has won a contract to supply four integrated bridge systems for U.S.-based Seabulk Towing Inc.The new vessels, two upgraded ART 90-98US tugs, and two new Rapport 3000 are being built at Master Boat Builders in Coden, Ala.. One of the tugboats is expected to be deliverd in December 2020. The other three tugboats will be delivered in January 2021, June 2021 and July 2021.Two of these newbuilds will be added to the company’s existing Rotortug fleet.

04 Mar 2020

Seabulk Enrolls in Carbon Offset Program

(File photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

Seabulk Towing Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings Inc., announced it is participating in a U.S.-based carbon offset project to neutralize carbon emissions from the physical operation of its harbor tugs in 2020.Daniel Thorogood, chief executive officer of Seabulk, said the company’s investment in an accredited carbon offset program is an initial step toward longer-term solutions that improve or eliminate direct emissions from its equipment. Seabulk, through its affiliates…

05 Feb 2020

SCHOTTEL to Supply Propulsion for Seabulk Newbuilds

(Photo: SCHOTTEL)

German propulsion manufacturer SCHOTTEL announced it has been awarded a contract from Alabama shipbuilder Master Boat Builders to supply a total of six rudderpropellers for a pair of new tugs being constructed for U.S.-based Seabulk Towing Inc, a subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings Inc.Both Robert Allan Ltd.-designed newbuilds will feature the Advanced Rotortug (ART) design triangular propulsion system.The tugs will be propelled by three SCHOTTEL Rudderpropellers type SRP 430 FP with a propeller diameter of 2.4 meters, each driven by a 1,771-kilowatt diesel engine.

22 Dec 2019

RAL Designs 2 New Tugboat Variants for Seacor

Canadian naval architecture and marine engineering services company Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) has been awarded design contracts of two vessel types for Seabulk Towing (a subsidiary of Seacor), to be built at Alabama-based Master Boat Builders, Inc.The newbuild program consists of 2 upgraded ART 90-98US tugs and 2 new RApport 3000 tugs, said the designer of commercial working vessels of all types.Two of the newbuilds will add to Seacor’s existing Rotortug fleet, with some feature updates to the Rotortug design, which has proven to be highly capable within the Company’s port system.The ART (Advanced Rotortug) designation applies to tugs featuring the unique triple drive configuration designed by Robert Allan Ltd.

11 Dec 2019

Seabulk Orders Four Tugs from Master Boat Builders

Seabulk Towing Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings Inc., announced Wednesday it has contracted with Alabama-based Master Boat Builders, Inc. for the construction of four 80 metric ton bollard pull harbor tugs with an expected delivery beginning in the second half of 2021 through early 2022.Two of the newbuilds will augment the company’s existing Rotortug fleet and feature updates to the Rotortug design, Seabulk said.The other two Azimuth Stern Drive newbuilds will be equipped with diesel mechanical and electric motor propulsion systems. These vessels represent Seabulk’s initial investment in hybrid power towing assets and will operate alongside the company’s existing harbor fleet in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. East Coast.

29 Dec 2017

Best Workboats of 2017

Marine News showcases the best of North America’s 2017 workboat deliveries. There is something for everyone. Notwithstanding the lingering offshore energy downturn, there were plenty of bright spots for North American shipyards in 2017. If a hull was delivered in 2017, we took a look at it, with several areas as a focus for inclusion into this edition. For starters, it is always exciting when a domestic yard delivers a vessel – or multiple vessels, for that matter – to foreign buyers. We can compete in a foreign arena; on price, quality and on-time delivery. This year was no different. No less important is the environmental footprint of a vessel, and there was plenty to report on from that angle in the past 12 months. The domestic waterfront is indeed getting greener and cleaner.

02 Nov 2017

Robert Allan Ltd. Designs for the American Market

(Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

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.

05 Apr 2017

Kotug, Seabulk Team Up in Bahamas

KOTUG International and Seabulk Towing have been awarded a contract with Borco Towing Company to carry out all towage operations at their Buckeye Bahamas Hub in the Bahamas. The contract will be performed through a newly formed joint venture between KOTUG and Seabulk: Kotug Seabulk Maritime. The Buckeye Bahamas Hub currently has over 26 million barrels of storage capacity and eight berths, including two VLCC-capable berths, making it the largest petroleum products terminal in the Western Hemisphere. Kotug Seabulk Maritime is deploying four new tugboats and a bunker barge to execute all Terminal Towage Operations, including Bunker Barge Assistance.

02 Mar 2017

AlphaBridge Delivered to the RT Trident

Photo: Alphatron Marine

Alphatron Marine has handed over the turnkey AlphaBridge tugboat console solution onboard the RT Trident to Seabulk Towing Inc. located in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. This tug bridge concept has been fully equipped with a JRC/Alphatron Marine navigation and communication package. The bridge is comprised of two ergonomically designed consoles with a central, rotatable, captain’s chair mounted on sliding rails. The layout of the consoles was designed in cooperation with the intended users.

09 Feb 2017

First US-built Rotortug Enters Service

Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.

The first U.S.-built Rotortug, ART Trident, has undergone trials and is now in service. Designed by Robert Allan Ltd., and designated as an ART 80-98US, she was built by Master Boat Builders in Bayou La Batre, Ala., and is the first in a series of three being constructed for Seabulk Towing of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The ART (Advanced Rotortug) designation applies to Robert Allan Ltd. designed tugs featuring the triple Z-drive configuration, originally conceived and developed by Rotortug (KST) B.V. of the Netherlands.

24 Aug 2016

MN100: Safety Management Systems, LLC

Bill Mahoney (Photo: Safety Management Systems, LLC)

A leading US maritime consultancy established in 1996, SMSLLC provides practical risk mitigation solutions for vessel operators and stakeholders. Clients include a broad range of operators including Genesis Marine, American River Transportation Company, Seabulk Towing, Military Sealift Command and others. Primary services include, Regulatory Advisement, Internal Auditing, Risk Management, and the creation of Management Systems. SMS LLC has been in the business of bringing practical safety management solutions to the marine industry for 20 years.

25 Nov 2015

Royston Appoints New US Distributor

Photo: Royston

Diesel power engineering specialist Royston has appoint a new U.S.-based distributor, citing growing interest in its advanced Enginei marine fuel management and monitoring systems. The Houma, La.-based Bow 2 Stern Technologies LLC will provide sales and technical service support for the Enginei system, which uses powerful data collection software to significantly expand the range of fuel, engine performance and voyage data used for crucial fuel analysis and optimization decisions.

29 May 2014

Streamlined Service for the Offshore Sector

In a business where time is money, Signal Ship Repair’s niche ‘high blocking’ repair methods have significantly reduced repair times and increased shipyard efficiencies. If Signal Ship Repair’s (SSR) primary business can generically be described simply as ship repair and conversion, then it can also be said that its practice of ‘high blocking’ to facilitate faster, and more efficient in-house Z drive repairs is its signature service. Utilizing a simple but highly effective shipyard technique, SSR has taken a routine practice originally used to facilitate naval ship drydockings, and turned it into a signature service that helps offshore clients with drop down thrusters, z-drives, pods and keel coolers get repairs done rapidly.

11 Feb 2014

Murray & Associates Hosts Third Fishing Challenge

Photo credit: Shane Roeser, Trans Marine Propulsion Systems

A group of industry professionals from the commercial maritime sector gathered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. at 8 a.m. on February 8 to participate in Murray & Associates LLC’s 2014 Fishing Challenge. The naval architect and marine engineering group hosted the tournament for the third consecutive year as a way to gather clients and maritime business professionals for a day of fishing on Florida’s beautiful waters. In total, the tournament drew 60 participants, including representatives from…

27 Jun 2013

Coast Guard-AWO Vessel Rider Program Kicks Off Second Year

Cadet Joel Amendolara at McAllister’s Yard in Staten Island, alongside the bow of the tug RESOLUTE. Cadet Amendolara was aboard the tug for ten days.

For the second consecutive year, cadets from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy are spending time on board tugboats and towboats this summer as part of a program under the auspices of the Coast Guard-American Waterways Operators (AWO) Safety Partnership. The Coast Guard Academy Cadet Towing Vessel Rider Program was established in February 2012 to educate cadets on the tugboat, towboat and barge industry through a week or more of shoreside and onboard training. This year’s program is off to a strong start…

18 Jan 2013

JonRie Marine Winches Introduces its New Series

JonRie Marine Winches introduces its new Series “220” Double Drum Escort / Assist Winch  currently be installed on the twin ship sets for Caribbean Tug-Z and the new Twin ASDs for Seabulk Towing. JonRie delivered its first 3 ship sets last year to Caribbean Tug-Z and Seabulk Towing. The 4th ship set to be delivered this spring to Seabulk Towing with a 5th  ship set being a larger version to be installed on the new Marine Towing of Tampa ASD this summer. All 5 ship sets feature JonRie’s Constant Tension (Active Heave Compensation) / Constant Scope systems.

19 Nov 2009

Edoc Systems Remains Healthy in Sour Economy

For Victoria marine enterprise software developers Edoc Systems Group, the past years economic storm has been more about riding calm winds and following seas. They are expanding and hiring while others in the software industry have been retrenching and shedding staff. Edoc moved into their current location in the heritage Hartwig Court two years ago and have already outgrown the current space. On the strength of new business, they are in the last stages of hiring additional software developers to join the team of 18 Victoria and Vancouver based existing staff. In the past month, they have hired a new marketing and communications coordinator, and are in the process of renovating additional space, taking over an adjacent 600 sq ft store-front.

22 Jan 2008

Seabulk to Hold Double Christening

Seabulk Towing is scheduled to christen the sister tugs Buccaneer and Gasparilla at its Tampa, Fla. facility on Thursday, January 24. Sponsors are Lorraine Gontarski, to christen tug Buccaneer on behalf of her husband, Joe Gontarski, who is Senior Director and special assistant to the Executive Director for Port Manatee and has served both the Port of Tampa and Port Manatee for over 30 years. The career of tug Gasparilla’s sponsor, Ms. Betty Provenzano, spans more than 35 years in support of those who steer the Port of Tampa.

12 Oct 2001

New Seabulk Site

Seabulk International has launched its new web site at www.seabulkinternational.com. The site is designed to complement the company's recent name change from Hvide to Seabulk International and the rebranding of its three primary business segments under the Seabulk umbrella - Seabulk Offshore, Seabulk Tankers and Seabulk Towing. On the occasion of the launch, Seabulk President and CEO Gerhard E. Kurz said, "This enhanced site incorporates interactive options and real-time data to reinforce and strengthen our global one-on-one communications with customers, investors, career-seekers and other interested parties." The site offers users a searchable fleet list for the company's entire 206-vessel fleet.

17 Oct 2001

Seabulk Offshore S.A. Earns ISO 9002 Certification

Seabulk International, Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Seabulk Offshore S.A., (SOSA), which is already ISM-certified, has also successfully passed the Bureau Veritas annual audit for renewal of its certification as an ISO 9002-certified company. SOSA operates a fleet of 38 offshore energy support vessels in West Africa, South America and the Caribbean. activities in the deepwater market off the coasts of Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Congo and Cameroon. support vessels with a fleet of 143 workboats in nearly all of the world's major offshore markets. Two other subsidiaries -- Seabulk Towing, with 31 vessels in seven southeastern U.S. American Waterways Operators' Responsible Carrier Program, an ISM Code- equivalent safety management system for the towing industry.