ATB New Construction and Retrofits Highlight Order Books for Southern Shipyards
Late last year was a high water mark of sorts in the Articulated Tug-Barge (ATB) business. In December, Crowley Maritime of Seattle, Wash. took delivery of their fourth ATB, featuring a 9,280 HP tug and a 155,000 barrel barge. Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, Wisc. built the barge. and the tug by sister company Marinette Marine, Manitowoc, Mich. At about the same time on the east coast K-Sea Transportation was taking delivery of their fourth ATB unit from Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, La. All four of these new units featured new 80,000-100,000 barrel barges and existing tugs fitted with the JAK coupler system. In 2004, ATB construction has slowed a bit, but several companies continue contracting for retrofitted and new ATB units.
DH Barge Construction Keeps Yards Humming
Shipyards in most major shipbuilding centers around the country are busy with double-hulled barge projects. The required phase out by OPA-90 regulations of single hulled barges over 25 years old by 2005 is the reason why there is considerable activity in this sector. Many petroleum transportation companies are building new barges and some barges with useful life remaining are being double hulled…so there is a good mix of new construction and renovation. This elevated level of building activity has led one strictly repair yard to take on new barge construction activity. For example the Manitowoc Marine Group's repair yard in Toledo, Ohio has its first new build in 15 years. They have under construction a 110,000 barrel barge for Hornbeck Offshore Transportation LLC, Mandeville, La.
