Eastern Cranking Out Escort Tugs

 

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. has delivered the escort tug Neptune (Hull# 237) on March 28, 2016. The Neptune is the second in series of four identical Robert Allan, LTD. (RAL) designed Z-Tech 2400 Class terminal and escort tugs currently under construction for Suderman & Young Towing Company at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility. Neptune’s delivery follows the delivery of Triton (Hull #235), lead vessel of the series, late last year.

 

Eastern is also constructing four tugs for Bay-Houston Towing Co. G&H Towing Company is the owners’ onsite representative and agent during the engineering, construction and delivery for both companies Suderman & Young and Bay Houston. G&H Towing Company will operate the vessels for the owners after delivery.

 

On March 30, 2016, Eastern launched the escort tug David B (Hull #239), third in a series of four identical Robert Allan, LTD. (RAL) designed Z-Tech 2400 Class terminal and escort tugs currently under construction for Bay-Houston Towing, Co. at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility. The David B is scheduled to deliver later this year.

 

The launch ceremony was held at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility and hosted by Patrick D’Isernia, Project Manager at Eastern, with many employees and guests in attendance. Patrick praised the Eastern employees for all their hard work and G&H Towing for their commitment to the project. Deacon Earl Mirus of St. John’s Catholic Church of Panama City, Fla. blessed the vessel. Annalise Reeves, daughter of ESG Project Manager, England Reeves, had the honor of christening the vessel. Also in attendance was Mike Nigro, Vice President of Engineering for G&H Towing. The H. Douglas M (Hull #236), lead vessel of the series was delivered February of this year.

 

Robert Allan, LTD (RAL) of Vancouver, B.C. has provided the Z-Tech 2400 design and engineering. G&H Towing's fleet currently consists of eight Z-Tech tugs in operation.

 

Eastern has over the years constructed and delivered 21 Z-drive tugs of similar size and complexity for several customers in the United States.

 

The Neptune and David B Z-Tech 2400 features the following characteristics:

ESG Hull #: H237 and H239

Dimensions (Overall): 80’-0”x 38’-3”x 15’-9”

Total Horsepower: 5,150 HP at 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 at 1,800 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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