Transport Petroleum Products News

A first-of-its-kind ammonia-powered, zero-emission tugboat will be put to the test by Brooklyn, N.Y-based startup Amogy in late 2023.Having already successfully demonstrated its technology on an aerial drone, tractor and semi-truck, the ammonia power solutions company revealed in early March that it is retrofitting a scaled up 1-megawatt (MW) version of its ammonia-to-power system onto a tug at Feeney Shipyard in Kingston, N.Y. as a test run for its emissions-slashing power and propulsion technology in the commercial maritime sector.Once installed…

This year, despite innumerable challenges and setbacks, a great number of new U.S.-flagged vessels made their way into service. In addition to Maid of the Mist's new electric tour boats James V. Glynn and Nikola Tesla featured Wednesday, the newbuilds highlighted below are some of the most noteworthy to come out of U.S. shipyards in 2020.DredgerU.S. dredging contractors have been adding tonnage in a big way. This Spring, Callan Marine added a significant piece to the U.S. fleet with its new Jones Act cutterhead suction dredge (CSD) General MacArthur.

Crowley Fuels took delivery Tuesday of its new Alaska Class 100,000-barrel, articulated tug-barge (ATB), which will be used to transport petroleum products for the Alaska market, from Bollinger Shipyards.Crowley will operate the 483-foot ATB for Alaska-based Petro Star Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) under a long-term charter. Crowley Shipping’s petroleum services group will operate the ATB on behalf of Crowley Fuels.The ATB is the first in Crowley’s fleet to be dedicated to the Alaska market.

Sovcomflot, a Russian maritime shipping company specializing in petroleum and LNG shipping,  and VEB.RF Group announced the signing of agreements whereby VEB Leasing will finance the construction of three new LNG-fuelled MR tankers.Sovcomflot initially placed the order for these three tankers with the Zvezda Shipyard (Primorsky region) on 28 December 2018. The delivery of the vessels is scheduled for 2022-2023.Each tanker will have a deadweight of 51,000 tonnes, and they are intended to transport petroleum products and gas condensate, operating under 20-year time charter agreements with Novatek.The vessels will have an Ice Class 1B classification…

On December 28, 2018, Sovcomflot (SCF Group) placed an order at Zvezda shipbuilding complex for construction of three new generation product carriers that use cleaner-burning LNG fuel as their primary fuel.Three MR-class vessels will have a deadweight (DWT) of 51,000 tonnes each. They will transport petroleum products and gas condensate and will be chartered to Novatek under long-term time charter agreements. Each tanker will have an ice class of 1B, enabling safe operations in areas with challenging ice conditions, including the Baltic.Using LNG fuel enables to significantly reduce emissions.

The emerging trend of marrying the design of an articulated tug and barge (ATB) to a particular propulsion system to maximize efficiencies of that system has, of late, been taking hold in workboat markets. For example, one recent project involving a dynamic partnership between Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc, Guarino & Cox, LLC (GCL) naval architects, Nautican Research & Development Ltd., integrated propulsion unit manufacturers, and VT Halter Marine shipbuilders, aptly demonstrates the concept in practice. What the collaboration produced, is even more important.

Bouchard Transportation Co. celebrated the naming of the M/V Donna J. Bouchard and the B. No. 272 at the christening ceremony held on Thursday, February 18 in New Orleans. The ceremony began with remarks from Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. President/CEO, Morton S. Bouchard III, followed by VT Halter Marine and ExxonMobil/SeaRiver Maritime. Vessel sponsor Joan Lesniewski, wife of Robert Lesniewski of ExxonMobil/SeaRiver Maritime, performed the ceremonious breaking of the champagne bottles as executives from Bouchard, VT Halter Marine and several of Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc.

Conrad Industries, Inc. announced today its second quarter and six months 2015 financial results and backlog at June 30, 2015. For the quarter ended June 30, 2015, Conrad had net income of $1.2 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.21 compared to net income of $6.8 million and earnings per diluted share of $1.14 during the second quarter of 2014. The Company had net income of $5.2 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.89 for the six months ended June 30, 2015 compared to net income of $13.2 million and earnings per diluted share of $2.21 for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 included research and development tax credits of $0.8 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

Reinauer Transportation Companies, LLC, purchased two GE U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 certified marine diesel engines and two Lufkin Marine Propulsion Gearboxes for its new articulated tug and barge (ATB), GE Marine announced. The ATB will be built by Senesco Marine and is scheduled to be commissioned in early 2016 to transport petroleum products in U.S. and International coastal waters. Local engine support will be provided by GE Marine’s Distributor, Cummins MidSouth.

The American Salvage Association’s Jon Waldron provides the ultimate cabotage primer. There always seems to be constant chatter about waiving the Jones Act. In reality, it is a simple task to demystify the thought that it is easy to obtain such waivers. The fact that Senator Landrieu’s comments were not directed against any potential waiver of the Jones Act shows the controversy that Jones Act waivers can rise in the maritime and energy sectors. In reality, however, there exists a misconception amongst many about the ease of obtaining a waiver to the Jones Act. Accordingly, this article will discuss the requirements for obtaining a waiver, analyze key past Jones Act waivers, and look to possibilities for future Jones Act waivers.

American Commercial Lines Will Transport Petroleum Products by Inland Barge for SeaRiver Maritime Inc. American Commercial Lines (ACL) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with SeaRiver Maritime Inc., a marine affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corporation, to provide petroleum barge transportation services on the U.S. inland waterways. As of January 1, 2013, ACL has entered into a multi-year agreement with SeaRiver to transport liquid cargoes via its mainline service and in unit tows. "We look forward to partnering with SeaRiver to transport ExxonMobil cargoes on the inland waterways," Mark Knoy, President and Chief Executive Officer of ACL, stated.

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 the 16,000-horsepower tugboat 'Legend' and 330,000-barrel tank barge 750-2 in Tampa, Florida. Together the vessels comprise the company’s newest articulated-tug-barge  (ATB) and will be used to transport petroleum products between the U.S. Gulf and East Coasts, making regular port calls in Tampa where Crowley currently discharges nearly 163 million gallons of product each month. The Legend/750-2 is the second of three petroleum tank vessels in its class in terms of size…

Crowley Sends First Articulated Tug-Barge to Guantanamo Bay to Deliver Fuel at U.S. Naval Base. Crowley Maritime Corporation’s shipping services to Cuba reached another milestone this past weekend with the first delivery of petroleum products to the U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay via articulated tug-barge (ATB) tank vessel. The cargo was loaded in San Diego, Calif., and transported to Cuba aboard Crowley’s ATB Coastal Reliance / 550-4. The fuel delivery was made in support of Crowley customer Military Sealift Command (MSC)…

Working to create and preserve American jobs, Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings (D, MD-7) and Jeff Landry (R, LA-3) today introduced the American Mariners Job Protection Act (H.R. 3202), a bill with bipartisan support that will increase government transparency surrounding the issuance of waivers allowing non-Jones Act-qualified vessels to carry cargo between U.S. ports. Under current law, when the head of the agency responsible for the administration of the Jones Act believes it necessary to waive the Act’s requirements in the interest of national defense, the agency must request the Maritime Administration to assess whether Jones Act-qualified vessels are available to carry the cargo under consideration.

Designed to deliver petroleum products on the U.S. West Coast, the vessel is designed with safer, more efficient fixed-tank cleaning system. Crowley Maritime Corporation's Vision/650-10, the last of 10 Articulated Tug Barges (ATBs) in the 650-series new-build program, has been delivered by V.T. Halter Marine in Pascougla, Miss. The ATB is now ready to enter service and will transport petroleum products between U.S. West Coast ports. The Vision/650-10, which has a capacity of 185,000 barrels, will be operated by Crowley's petroleum services group.

Aker Philadelphia Shipyard (Oslo: AKPS), a leading U.S. commercial shipyard, delivered to American Shipping Company (Oslo: AMSC) the shipyard’s twelfth Veteran Class MT-46 product tanker. The 46,000 dwt vessel, named the Overseas Tampa, will leave the shipyard in the coming days under the operation of Overseas Shipping Group (OSG) to transport petroleum products. The on schedule delivery of this ship marks the successful conclusion of a historic shipbuilding program that began in April 2005.

A report from Bloomberg said that Reliance Industries Ltd., owner of the world’s largest oil refining complex, was the eighth-biggest charterer of Aframax vessels used to transport petroleum products last year, according to New York-based ship broker Poten & Partners. Charters by Reliance, controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, represented about 3% of the market for Aframax- size “clean” tankers last year, each with the capacity to carry about 830,000 barrels of gasoline, according to a report released by. (Source: Bloomberg)

Aker Philadelphia Shipyard (Oslo: AKPS), a U.S. commercial shipyard, delivered to American Shipping Company (Oslo: AMSC) its tenth Veteran Class MT-46 product tanker. The 46,000 dwt vessel, named the Overseas Anacortes, will leave the shipyard in the coming days under the operation of OSG America to transport petroleum products for Tesoro. This vessel is the fourth vessel planned to be utilized by Tesoro. The ship will leave Aker Philadelphia Shipyard and join its sister ships in transporting petroleum products on the West Coast.

Crowley Maritime Corporation christened the ninth in a series of 10 new 185,000 barrel ATBs at the VT Halter Marine shipyard in Pascagoula. The Innovation and barge 650-9 will be chartered to Chevron, to safely transport petroleum products throughout the Gulf of Mexico. During the ceremony, Joan Pennella, wife of Crowley Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President Bill Pennella, christened the 10,728-horsepower tug Innovation; while Lynn Brewer, wife of Burl Brewer, Chevron operations scheduler, christened 650-9.

Aker Philadelphia Shipyard (Oslo: AKPS), a U.S. commercial shipyard, delivered its ninth Veteran Class MT-46 product tanker May 14 to American Shipping Company (Oslo: AMSC). The 46,000 dwt vessel, named the Overseas Martinez, will leave the shipyard in the coming days under the operation of OSG America to transport petroleum products for Tesoro. Aker Philadelphia has three other vessels currently under construction as part of its historical build program. All are scheduled to be delivered through spring 2011.

On the wake of the christening and launching of its newest heavy-lift-series deck barge in Portland, Ore., Crowley took delivery of its newest Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) - the tug Commitment and barge 650-6 in Pascagoula, Miss, on April 2. The 185,000-barrel ATB, the 10th in Crowley's fleet, has been chartered by a major energy company to transport petroleum products on the U.S. West Coast beginning in April. In less than a week, Crowley is scheduled to receive the Nachik, a newly-designed Alaska shallow draft tug…

In the first of several vessel deliveries over the next few weeks, Crowley christened and launched its newest heavy-lift series deck barge, the 455-4, Saturday at Gunderson Marine Shipyard in Portland, Ore. The 400 ft long, 105 ft wide barge was christened by Carey Graham, wife of Parker Drilling Vice President Dennis Graham. The vessel's first assignment will be hauling a Parker Drilling Rig. Following that assignment, it will be turned over to a major energy company for work on the world's largest land-based rig in Alaska's North Slope at Satellite Drilling Island (SDI).