(NEW CANAAN, Conn.) — Gulf LNG Tugs of Port Arthur, Texas, has ordered four low-emission RApport 2800 tugboats specifically designed to serve the Port Arthur LNG export facility. Two will be constructed by Master Boat Builders in Coden, Ala., and two by Sterling Shipyard in Port Neches, Texas.
Gulf LNG Tugs is a joint venture of industry leaders who have collective experience of over 400 years providing ship assist and towage services:
• Bay-Houston Towing, Houston, Texas
• Moran Towing Corp., New Canaan, Conn.
• Suderman & Young Towing Co., Houston, Texas
This marks the fifth LNG terminal along the Gulf Coast for the Gulf LNG Tugs group, the largest provider of LNG terminal services in North America.
The RApport 2800 tugs, designed by naval architect Robert Allan Ltd., feature a compact design for increased maneuverability in ship handling and escorting through waterways while including the latest in environmental and safety technologies. Gulf LNG Tugs members each currently operate vessels of a similar hull design within their commercial fleets, with an additional four under construction.
Each vessel is being designed and built to exceed U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter M regulations and ABS classification. The tugs will feature EPA Tier 4 Caterpillar 3516 E main propulsion engines connected to Kongsberg US-255 FP z-drives.
Additionally, the vessels will be outfitted with a Markey DESF-48-100 hawser winch, including a render-recover feature for full bollard pull capacity, a feature that furthers escort capabilities.
With an overall length of 92 feet, a beam of 40 feet and a bollard pull capacity of more than 85 metric tonnes, each tugboat will be equipped with firefighting capabilities that exceed ABS Fire Fighting Vessel 1 (FFV1) standards.
– Moran Towing Corp.
