Manitowoc Marine Launches Tug Ocean Reliance

The Manitowoc Company, Inc. announced the successful launch of the 127-ft. tug, Ocean Reliance, the first of two tugs being built at Manitowoc's Marinette Marine subsidiary. When delivered, Ocean Reliance and its sister tug Coastal Reliance will be mated with 155,000-barrel, double-hulled petroleum barges, which are currently being constructed at Manitowoc's Bay Shipbuilding subsidiary. Ocean Reliance is powered by 9,280-horsepower engines and is equipped with an Intercon coupling system that will link the ocean-class tug with its 512-foot barge. Scheduled for delivery later this year, both tug/barge units are fully compliant with the provisions of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA '90), which mandates that any vessel carrying crude oil or refined petroleum products in U.S. waters must be double-hulled. Both of Vessel Management's new tug/barge units will operate in the Pacific Northwest and are among the largest and most-sophisticated vessels of their type ever constructed in the United States. Along with these tug/barge units, Marinette Marine is constructing several seagoing buoy tenders for the U.S. Coast Guard and three 310-foot passenger ferries for the New York City Department of Transportation. In addition, it is under contract with the Coast Guard to design and build a new Great Lakes icebreaker that will replace the USCGC Mackinaw. Tom Byrne, president of Manitowoc Marine Group, stated: "These vessels continue the long, proud tradition of shipbuilding that launched The Manitowoc Company 100 years ago. This century of success stems from working closely with our customers to assure that they get the high-quality vessels they need. Always on time and always on budget is the formula that guides us everyday in all that we do."