Smith Berger Tow Pins Lead the Way
Smith Berger Marine, Inc. said it has been selected by Edison Chouest Offshore to design and manufacture the Tow Pin Stern Roller units required on its nine new vessels, including five escort tugs and four docking tugs.
Edison Chouest is building the new tugs in order to execute a 10-year Ship Escort-Response Vessel System (SERVS) contract with the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, for which the tugs will provide tanker escort and spill response services in Prince William Sound.
The Tow Pin unit has the capacity to sustain 250 tons of line tension and features three individually raised and lowered towing pins, one hold down hook and a 14” diameter stern roller. The tow pins have a dedicated 5 HP electro-hydraulic power unit and are operated by a remote control panel located in the wheelhouse.
Smith Berger added it was also chosen to furnish the Shark Jaws and Towing Pins for the four new Damen Stan 3711 tugs being built at Conrad Industries for Young Brothers Limited. The shark jaws and towing pins will provide for safer towing operations, especially when the crew is connecting the towing bridle to the tow wire from the winch. The four shipsets of equipment is nearly identical to the Smith Berger gear installed on the latest Foss Maritime tugs, the Michele Foss, Denise Foss and Nicole Foss.
Smith Berger has also built tow pin units for the two McAllister Towing tugs at Horizon Shipbuilding, the Harley Marine tug Earl W. Redd at Diversified Marine and a 15” diameter Stainless Steel Staple Chock for the Signet Maritime tug Mischief.