Crowley Christens Fourth of Six Harbor-Class Tractor Tugs

September 2, 1999

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. Leader, at 4,800 hp, is powered by two Caterpillar 3516-B engines and has an indirect bollard pull in excess of 120 tons at 10 knots. Leader was built by Nichols Bros. Boat Builders in Freeland, Wash.

Crowley Christens Fourth of Six Harbor-Class Tractor Tugs

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