Moran Sells Deck Barge to Private Buyers

Moran Towing Corporation of New Canaan, Connecticut have sold their U.S. flag, ocean deck barge “Norfolk” (ex-Columbia Norfolk, Ponce Trader, UMTB 331, MLC-331) to a private buyers on the U.S. East Coast who specialize in the transport of aggregates.

The 331.3’ x 78.0’ x 20.3’ depth, double raked barge was built in 1982 by Marine Power and Equipment of Seattle, Washington for their affiliated companies Marine Leasing Company and Marine Logistics Corporation to operate in the Puget Sound / Alaskan trade. The ABS +A1 classed barge is fitted with 14.5ft. bin walls giving it a cubic capacity of abt. 288,601ft3 and a deadweight capacity of 8,688 long tons on a 15.8’ draft. U.S.-based Marcon International brokered the deal.

This is the second sale Marcon has brokered for Moran Towing Corporation within the last six months and the first transaction with this buyer. Marcon sold or chartered four ocean deck barges in 2014 totaling 20,668dwt and over the past 34 years has brokered 138 ocean deck barges worldwide with an aggregate deadweight capacity of 861,298dwt. Sales on four additional vessels and barges are pending and expected to close shortly. Five tugs, one AHTS and two barges continue to be fixed on previously arranged long-term charters.