The following is the text of a news release from Ledcor Group:
(VANCOUVER, British Columbia) — We are pleased to announce the arrival of the latest additions to Ledcor’s growing marine fleet. Our new 1,200 horsepower tugboat and two new flat-deck heavy cargo barges arrived in late February after a 50-day journey across the Pacific from Shanghai. On March 26, the crafts were christened by BCIT Foundation Executive Director Jackie Jacob and MLA North Vancouver-Lonsdale Naomi Yamamoto in a ceremony in North Vancouver.
The arrival of the new barges and tug signals continued rapid growth for Ledcor’s marine division, which will add three tugboats and eight barges to its current fleet of six tugboats and 15 barges, within the next year. The newly acquired 80-meter barges, equipped with a deck strength of over 3,000 pounds per square foot, will carry a wide variety of potential cargoes including bulk commodities, containers, equipment modules, and construction materials such as pipe. In the event that one or more LNG plants are constructed in the province, the barges will be used during the construction phase to provide a cost-effective solution for the transportation of the necessary equipment and materials.
“The new tug and barge assets allow us to meet our current and future customers’ needs as Ledcor continues to expand its service offerings in British Columbia,” said Mark Houghton, chief operating officer for Ledcor’s marine division. “We are well positioned to seize new opportunities and diverse amounts of cargo with these two new barges.”
Since the launch of our marine division in 2012, we have seen tremendous business success and an increased demand for marine services in B.C.
“Our expansion creates business diversification for Ledcor and brings new jobs and economic opportunities to the marine industry,” said Paul McElligott, president, Ledcor Transportation and Resources, the marine division’s parent company. “We are uniquely positioned to provide customers with modern new equipment, competitive rates, and a dedication to customer service and will continue growing our business this way."
The flat-deck heavy cargo barges, named the L6001 and L6002, were designed by Capilano Maritime Services of North Vancouver.
Our new tugboat, named the Bill L Ledcor, produces 1,200 horsepower and is able to successfully single or double tow Ledcor wood product and aggregate barges as well as the new 80-meter barges. To fulfill current capacity demands, the tugboat will be used for inland services, specifically trips along the Fraser River.
