Bender wins ATB Contract

Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co. Inc. will build three tug barges worth $232.5 million for Maritrans Inc. Each articulated tug barge unit, a powerful 12,000-hp workboat, will be worth $77.5 million and able to carry 335,000 barrels of liquid petroleum products.

The first unit should be delivered in October 2007, and the others will follow in May and December 2008, according to Maritrans, a Tampa-based marine petroleum transportation company.

Each of the units include a tug and barge joined by a pin system that allows the connection to stay intact even in rough seas.

Bender's shipyard was up and running at full capacity Tuesday after sustaining "little damage" from Hurricane Katrina.