Crowley Takes Delivery of First High-Bollard-Pull Ocean Class Tugboat, Ocean Wave

Crowley Ocean Class Ocean Wave Tugboat

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) – Crowley Maritime Corp. today took delivery of the Ocean Wave, the first of four high-bollard-pull Ocean Class tugboats under construction at Bollinger Shipyards in Amelia, La.           

“Taking delivery of this first ocean-class tug is a significant milestone for Crowley and our customers who will benefit from its use on their projects,” said Tom Crowley, company chairman, president and CEO.  “These Jensen Maritime-designed towing vessels – three of which are under construction at Bollinger – are a new generation of powerful, high-tech and environmentally friendly workhorses for Crowley that will further solidify our standing as an industry leader in ocean towing, salvage and offshore marine support for the upstream energy industry.”

The second Ocean Class vessel, Ocean Wind, is expected to be delivered later this year.

Crowley’s Ocean Class tugs are modern ocean towing twin-screw vessels with controllable pitch propellers (CPP) in nozzles, high lift rudders and more than 150 MT bollard pull. The first two Ocean Class vessels, the Ocean Wave and Ocean Wind, are classed as Dynamic Positioning 1 (DP1) tugboats and are twin-screw, steel-hulled tugs with an overall length of 146 ft, beam of 46 ft, hull depth of 25 ft and design draft of 21 ft. The second two tugs of the class, Ocean Sky and Ocean Sun, will be classed as DP2 and will be 10 feet longer.  

"These new boats will be workhorses for our valued upstream energy customers and for companies and government entities needing long-range, high-capacity, ocean towing along with salvage and emergency response support,” said Crowley.

The tugs will be ideally suited to work with Crowley's new 455-series heavy lift deck barges, which measure 400 feet by 105 feet and offer increased stability for loads up to 4,200 pounds per square foot. Additionally, the tugs will be outfitted for, and capable of, rig moves, platform and Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit tows, emergency response and firefighting. These Ocean class vessels will also have the capability to support salvage and rescue towing opportunities. Additional Ocean Class vessel specs can be accessed online here.

Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 120-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company. The company provides project solutions, transportation and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean Liner Services, Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are: liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response through its TITAN Salvage subsidiary; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture through its Jensen Maritime subsidiary; government services, and petroleum and chemical transportation, distribution and sales. Additional information about Crowley, its subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at www.crowley.com.

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By Professional Mariner Staff