Conrad delivers new ATB tug to Vane Brothers

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The following is a report from Alan Haig-Brown, Professional Mariner's West Coast correspondent:

(BALTIMORE, Md.) — Vane Brothers recently took delivery of the first of three new articulated tug-barge (ATB) tugboats from the Conrad Orange Shipyard in Orange, Texas. The first boat is Assateague, named for a barrier island located in Maryland and Virginia. The other two boats will be Chincoteague, named for a barrier island on the coast of Virginia, and Wachapreague, named for a Virginian coastal town. 

Designed by Greg Castleman of Castleman Maritime in League City, Texas, each 110-by-38-foot tug is being mated to an 80,000-barrel barge designed by Bristol Harbor Group and being built by Conrad Industries of Amelia, La. These barges measure 405 feet by 74 feet.

Each ATB unit utilizes a Beacon-Finland JAK 700 tug-barge coupling system. Crew access to the barges is facilitated by a Schoelhorn-Albrecht custom gangway. Coastal Marine Equipment of Gulfport, Miss., is supplying deck capstans on the tugs.

A pair of Cummins QSK60M Tier 3 engines, each rated at 2,200 hp, are providing propulsion power. They are coupled to Reintjes WAF 873 gears with 7.087:1 reduction and turn 102-inch, four-blade bronze propellers mounted on 9.5-inch shafts. Two Cummins QSB7-DM-powered 125-kW generators provide electrical power for each vessel, with a Cummins-powered 60-kW emergency generator.

 The tugs will have accommodation for up to 10 crewmembers. The boats will be classed ABS-A1 TUG, AMS, ABCU.

By Professional Mariner Staff