Escort Tug Launched for Bay-Houston Towing

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced the launch of the Escort Tug H. DOUGLAS M (Hull 236) for Bay-Houston Towing Company on November 17, 2015. This series of Robert Allan, LTD. (RAL) designed Z-Tech 2400 Class Terminal & Escort Tugs is currently under construction at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility. The H. DOUGLAS M is scheduled to deliver in early 2016.

The launch ceremony was held at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility and hosted by Joey D’Isernia, President of Eastern, with employees and guests in attendance. Mr. D’Isernia praised all the hard work by the employees and Father Roy Marien of St. John’s Catholic Church of Panama City, FL. blessed the vessel. Joey’s daughter, Blair, had the honor of christening the vessel. In attendance from G&H Towing was Mike Nigro, Vice President of Engineering, Mark Wood, Sr. Project Engineer and Jeff Reeves, Project Manager.

The H. DOUGLAS M (ESG Hull #236) is the first of a series of four (4) Z-Tech Class Terminal & Escort Tugs being constructed for Bay-Houston Towing Company. Eastern is also constructing simultaneously an identical series, of the same design for Suderman & Young Towing Company the first of which is currently completing regulatory trials. G&H Towing Company is the Owners’ onsite Representative and Agent during the engineering, construction and delivery for both Bay-Houston and Suderman & Young Towing companies.

Robert Allan, LTD (RAL) of Vancouver, B.C. has provided the Z-Tech 2400 Class Terminal & Escort Tugs design and engineering. G&H Towing's fleet currently consists of eight “Z-Tech” tugs in operation. This “Z-Tech” incorporates the latest technology for escort service and ship assist.

The H. DOUGLAS M Z-Tech 2400 features the following characteristics:

ESG Hull #: H236 – 1st Vessel in the Series of 4 Dimensions (Overall): 80’-0”x 38’-3”x 15’-9”
Total Horsepower: 5,150 HP @ 1,600 RPM
Main Engines: (2) Caterpillar 3516C (B rating) Tier 3 marine propulsion diesel engines
Main Propulsion: (2) Schottel Model SRP 1215FP in Nozzles Z-Drives
Main Generators: (2) John Deere 4045AFM85 Tier 3, 99kW 480V @1800 RPM marine diesel generator sets
Hawser Winch: (1) Markey Machinery Fairleader 50HP Electric
Hawser Winch, Model DEPCF-48S, 36” wide Drum
Mid-drum brake holding capacity 300,000 lbs
Classification: ABS A1, Towing Vessel, AMS and Escort Service
                ABS Loadline (SoC), Statement of Compliance
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