Vessel Management Services Inc News

Delaware's Vessel Management Services, Inc. has sold their twin-screw tug “Sinuk” to King River LLC of Palmer, Alaska. The 85.8’ x 28.5’ x 10.0’ depth, model bow tug was built in 1995 by J. Ray McDermott Shipyard in Morgan City, Louisiana. The tug, along with her sister “Siku”, were designed for coastwise towing and lightering of deck cargo / petroleum barges supplying the numerous remote sites and villages in southwestern and western Alaska. “Sinuk” is powered by a pair of CAT 3412DITA diesels totaling 1…

The Maritime Administration has approved a $346,129,000 Title XI guarantee to Vessel Management Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Crowley Holdings, Inc., for the construction of three 330,000 barrel double hull tug/barge units.  VT Halter Marine, Inc. in Gulfport, Mississippi is constructing the barges and Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Washington has been retained to build the tugs.  The Title XI Loan Guarantee program provides funding to promote the growth and modernization of U.S. shipyards and the U.S. merchant marine.

VT Halter Marine, Inc. (VT Halter Marine), a subsidiary of VT Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), announced the delivery of the final in a series of ten 185,000-barrel articulated tug barge (ATB) units built for Crowley Maritime Corporation’s subsidiary, Vessel Management Services, Inc. (Vessel Management Services). Since construction of the first unit in 2005, all ten 185,000-barrel barges have been built at VT Halter Marine’s Pascagoula Operations while the 9,700-hp tugs were built at its Moss Point Marine Operations.

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.

The movement of petroleum products on the nation's rivers, lakes, bays and oceans is soon to be regulated of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Called OPA 90, this regulation requires many bulk carriers of petroleum products to use double-hulled barges to haul their cargo by 2005 and all to be doubled hulled by 2015. Looking first at the large product tankers and crude oil carriers, 23 product carriers and 17 crude oil carriers must be double hulled by 2005, another 20 product carriers and 17 crude oil tankers need to be double hulled by 2010 and another 13 product and 9 crude oil ships need to meet OPA 90 by 2015. These conversions (or ship retirements) are a major issue impacting the ability of the U.S. to transport crude oil and its refined products.

Crowley Maritime's Vessel Management Services, Inc., will christen the first of four Articulated Tug-Barge (ATB) tank vessels this year in New Orleans on Thursday, April 25. The vessels to be christened are the 9,280-hp tug Sea Reliance and the 155,000-barrel barge 550-1. Intrepid Ship Management, a subsidiary of Marine Transport Lines, will charter the Halter Marine-built ATB from Vessel Management Services and operate it. Marine Transport is a Crowley subsidiary and part of its Contract services segment. "We are looking forward to christening and putting these exceptional new vessels into service for our customer," said Tom Crowley Jr., Chairman, President and CEO of Crowley Maritime.

Vessel Management Services, Inc., a Crowley Maritime Corporation subsidiary, on April 25 christened the first of four Articulated Tug-Barge (ATB) tank vessels that the company will take delivery of this year. The vessels christened were the 9,280-hp tug Sea Reliance and 155,000-barrel barge 550-1. At ceremonies held on the Riverwalk at the New Orleans Hilton, Christine Sande Crowley, wife of Tom Crowley Jr., Chairman, President and CEO of Crowley Maritime, christened the Sea Reliance, and her mother, Linda Engle Sande, christened barge 550-1. Intrepid Ship Management, a subsidiary of Marine Transport Lines, will charter the Halter Marine-built ATB from Vessel Management Services and operate it. Marine Transport is a Crowley subsidiary and part of its contract services segment.

Friede Goldman Halter, Inc., (FGH) vessel construction business unit, Halter Marine, has been informed by the offices of Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) and Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) that it has been awarded a contract by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce for the detailed design and construction of the first of four Fisheries Research Vessels- designated the FRV-40 class. The contract also includes the provisions of spare parts, technical services and options to built three additional ships. The total value of the base contract is $38.3 million, if all possible options are exercised, the value of the contract could ultimately exceed $165 million.

VT Halter Marine won a contract to build three 330,000-barrel tank barges for Crowley Maritime Corporation's subsidiary, Vessel Management Services Inc. The vessels, which include the cost of owner-furnished equipment, are valued at approximately $254m. They are the largest in Crowley Maritime's history and the fastest in their class. VT Halter Marine is the US operations of ST Engineering's marine arm, Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd (ST Marine). VT Halter Marine currently has three contracts with Vessel Management Services Inc. to build the tugs and 185,000-barrel barges for 10 Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) units, at the total value of approximately $515m. This latest contract will bring the total contractual value with Vessel Management Services to $769m.

The 9,280 hp Ocean Relience is the first of two tugs built by Marinette Marine Corp. for Vessel Management Services (VMS), a Crowley Maritime Co. The vessel is intended to operate as a tug/barge unit in conjunction with the 155,000-barrel tank barge 550-3. Construction engineering for the barge was also accomplished by Schuller & Allan LLC. The connection device is an Intercon Coupling system. Earlier this year, Vessel Management Services, Inc. christened the first of four Articulated Tug-Barge (ATB) tank vessels that the company took in 2002, the 9,280 hp-tug Sea Reliance and 155,000-barrel barge 550-1, built by Halter Marine. The barge 550-1 was built at Halter's Port Bienville shipyard in Pearlington, Miss., and the Sea Reliance at its Moss Point Marine shipyard, in Escatawpa, Miss.

Crowley Marine Services christened the fifth of its new Harbor-Class tractor tugs in Long Beach, Calif. Stephanie Goldberg, wife of Arco Marine executive Victor Goldberg, performed the tradition of christening Scout. The vessel was designed by Guido Perla and Associates, and constructed by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland, Wash., for Vessel Management Services, Inc. Each tug features Voith Schneider twin cycloidal propulsion and a hydrofoil-shaped skeg that provides greatly improved steering, control and seakeeping ability. In addition, the unique hydrodynamics of the hull result in increased tons of indirect steering and braking forces, which are available to assist or control a vessel at higher speeds.

Crowley Maritime is sending the second of its big new 10,192 hp Prince William Sound class tanker escort tugs, Tan'erliq, north to Alaska this month. It will be following in the wake of the first boat, Nanuq, which went north earlier this year. Both vessels have been designed with cold weather and rough seas in mind, and each features an innovative new deck heating system. "We were looking for new and innovative technology," said Maynard Willms, vice-president of Vessel Management Services, Inc (VMS), the Crowley subsidiary charged with designing and overseeing construction of the new tugs. According to Willms, after two years of searching…

Crowley Marine Services has accepted the final vessel in a series of six new Harbor-Class tractor tugs from the company's subsidiary, Vessel Management Services, Inc. (VMS). The vessel, known as Chief, will be deployed in Puget Sound for ship assist and escort work. Designed by Seattle-based Guido Perla and Associates and constructed by Nichols Brother Boat Builders, for VMS, each of the six Harbor Class tugs features Voith Schneider twin cycloidal propulsion. Chief is powered by two Caterpillar 3516B engines and has a direct bollard pull of 111,500 lbs., with a free running speed of 14 knots.

Crowley Marine Services christened the fourth of its new Harbor-Class tractor tugs in January. Faye Plummer performed the time-honored tradition of christening Leader. Leader is the fourth of six 105-ft. Harbor-Class tractor tugs designed and constructed for Vessel Management Services, Inc. (VMS), a Crowley Maritime Corporation subsidiary. VMS has entered into a long-term bareboat charter of Leader to Crowley Marine Services. Each of the six ship assist and escort tugs feature Voith Schneider twin cycloidal propulsion and a hydrofoil-shaped skeg that provides greatly improved steering, control and seakeeping ability when the vessel is running at high speeds in the skeg-first direction.

The 9,280 horsepower Ocean Reliance is the first of two tugs built by Marinette Marine Corp. for Vessel Management Services, a Crowley Maritime Co. The vessel is intended to operate as a tug/barge unit in conjunction with the 155,000-barrel tank barge 550-3. Construction engineering for the barge was also accomplished by Schuller & Allan LLC. The connection device is an Intercon Coupling system. Earlier this year, Vessel Management Services, Inc. christened the first of four Articulated Tug-Barge (ATB) tank vessels that the company took in 2002, the 9,280-hp tug Sea Reliance and 155,000-barrel barge 550-1, built by Halter Marine. The barge 550-1 was built at Halter's Port Bienville shipyard in Pearlington, Miss., and the Sea Reliance at its Moss Point Marine shipyard, in Escatawpa, Miss.

Vessel Management Services, Inc., a Crowley Maritime Corporation subsidiary and part of its corporate services segment, will christen its newest Articulated Tug-Barge (ATB) tank vessel this Friday in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. such vessels the company will take delivery of this year. The ceremony will be held at the Bay Shipbuilding Company at 11 a.m. christen the Ocean Reliance. and operate it. Marine Transport is a Crowley subsidiary and part of its oil and chemical distribution and transportation segment. "We are looking forward to placing this new ATB into service with our other ATBs completed earlier this year," said Tom Crowley Jr., Chairman, President and CEO of Crowley Maritime. Already in service are the Sea Reliance and barge 550-1, and the Sound Reliance and barge 550-2.

Vessel Management Services, Inc., a Crowley Maritime Corporation subsidiary and part of its corporate services segment, Friday christened the third of four Articulated Tug-Barge (ATB) tank vessels that the company will take delivery of this year. were built by The Manitowoc Company, Inc. At ceremonies held at the Bay Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, Wis, Molly Crowley, a director on Crowley's board, christened the tug. Afterwards, guests attended a reception and celebratory luncheon at The Stone Harbor Resort. Over 100 people braved the cold, rain and snow to attend the christening ceremony, which has become a tradition in the maritime industry as new vessels enter service.