Alabama Shipyard Delivers Second ATB

Alabama Shipyard has delivered another articulated tug and barge (ATB) unit to Reinauer Transportation Companies of Staten Island, N.Y. The Christian Reinauer and the RTC 143 is the second ATB unit built for Reinauer at Alabama Shipyard’s facility in Mobile. The first ATB unit, the Nicole Leigh Reinauer and the RTC 135 was delivered by Alabama Shipyard in December 1999. The 7,200 hp twin-screw ocean-going tug is 124 ft. and features the patented Intercon tug/barge coupler system designed and built by Intercontinental Engineering and Manufacturing Corporation of Kansas City, Mo. The system consists of two independently mounted gear drive ram assemblies that connect the tug and barge. The connection is transversely rigid and mechanically locked. The tug is able to push a load barge at approximately 11 knots, up to 35 percent faster than traditionally towed barges.