Two New ASD Tugs Ordered and New Pushboat Built

Through the auspices of Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, WA, two Dominican Republic based tug and barge operators ordered one newbuild Ulupinar series sister-tug each from Turkish shipyard and tug owners, Sanmar Denizcilik Ltd. of Istanbul. The first of the two tugs will be delivered from the shipyard in November 2007 and the second in January 2009. The ASD type tugs were designed by Robert Allan, Ltd. and are classed RINA C + Hull & Machinery, Unrestricted Navigation. Principal dimensions are 90' length overall by 30' beam x 13.25' depth with an operating draft of 14.5'. Power is provided by two CAT 3515BTAs developing a total of 3,300BHP to Rolls Royce US 155 propulsion units with fixed pitch props in high efficiency nozzles. One each Rolls Royce hydraulic tow winch with 23 tons line pull at 8m/min is mounted fore and aft in addition to 8" hydraulic tow pins and tow hook aft. The forward winch spools 120m Amstel Blue rope and the aft winch 650m 40mm wire. Firefighting is provided by a 650m3/h fire pump and Skum fire monitor. The tugs have a speed of abt. 12.5kn free running and expected bollard pull of 40mt. This is the fourth or fifth tug or barge Marcon has sold these Caribbean Buyers over the years.

Another newbuilding brokered was the delivery of a 1,200 bhp inland river push boat. The vessel was built in 2006 at Serodino Shipyard, Inc. in Chattanooga, TN and was sold on completion to private interests in the U.S. Gulf region. The design is known as the "Tiger Class", and is 52' x 22.5' x 7.5' depth of hull. She is a typical inland river 3 deck boat design with twin Cummins KTA19M's providing a total of 1200BHP @ 1800 rpm. The vessel has a height of eye of roughly 24' and is fitted with quarters for 4 crew on the second deck with a small galley, head and shower on the main deck. Her plate thicknesses are 3/8" plate hull with ½" plate over wheels & bilge knuckles. Twin Disc MG-5202DC 4.06:1 reduction gears drive twin fixed pitch 52" x 40" 4-blade Nibral propellers. The vessel has two steering rudders and four flanking rudders. She is fitted with push knees forward and electric barge winches. Two 40kW / Cummins 4B3.9 diesel generator sets provide auxiliary power and light. Vessel has capacities for 6,000g fuel, 1,500g fresh water and about 165g lube oil. Marcon acted as sole broker in all three newbuildings. Marcon has concluded a total of 21 sales and one charter to-date this year - and we are only four months into 2007. We expects to conclude on several additional sales within the next thirty days including three tugs over 4,000BHP and one anchor handling tug supplier.