The following is text of a news release from Washburn & Doughty (W&D):
(EAST BOOTHBAY, Maine) — Washburn & Doughty has announced the execution of a new vessel construction contract with Moran Towing Corp. of New Canaan, Conn., to build two 86-by-36-foot ASD-type ship assist and escort z-drive tugs, with options to build up to 10 vessels.
“We are proud to have earned Moran’s continued business and we look forward to working with them on this significant project," said Bruce Doughty, W&D's chairman of the board. "We know the standards to which Moran holds its fleet and it feels good to know that Washburn & Doughty tugs will continue to serve their crews up and down the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico.”
In addition to the two firm tugs, which will be delivered in 2020, the contract provides Moran with four two-tug options keyed to production milestones of the tugs then under construction.
W&D’s team of in-house naval architects and designers will complete the production designs for the new 86-foot tugs based on the contract plans and regulatory package prepared by Jensen Maritime Consultants Inc. The option tugs are expected to be a combination of the 86-foot Jensen design and W&D’s 82 metric ton bollard, 93-by-38-foot design, 14 of which are currently in service in the Moran fleet.
Each tug will be built and classed to fully comply with ABS standards, Maltese Cross A1, Maltese Cross AMS, Towing Vessel, Escort Vessel, and UWILD. The tugs will also be built and inspected to fully comply with all applicable USCG Subchapter M (Towing Vessel) regulations.
Caterpillar Marine will provide two Model 3512E-HD (high displacement) marine propulsion engines rated 2,549 bhp/1,901 bkw at 1,800 RPM, EPA Tier 4 and IMO III certified for each 86-foot tug.
Two Rolls-Royce US 205P20 FP azimuth thrusters, with steering controlled by an Aquapilot control system, will drive 2,400-mm fixed-pitch propellers. This propulsion package is expected to produce a bollard pull in excess of 63 metric tons.
Two ship service generator sets, each rated at 99 kW, 120/208 VAC, three-phase and 60 Hz, and set up for parallel operation will be provided. The engines will be John Deere model 4045AFM85.
The main switchboard will be supplied by Power Panels Inc. and will feature full parallel with seamless transfer and split bus operation. It will be arranged for primary distribution of 208 VAC three-phase, 60 Hz power.
Deck machinery will include a Markey DEPC-48 50-hp electric hawser winch on the fore deck and a Markey CEW60 electric capstan on the aft deck. The hawser winch control console will be located in the pilothouse, with an emergency brake release/brake hold button located on the forward deckhouse bulkhead.
Bow fendering will consist of one upper course of 18-inch and one lower course of 36-inch cylindrical fenders. The bow fendering will be completed by 16-inch soft loop, 11-inch mat style laminated rubber, and 12-by-14-inch D-shaped fendering. There will be 12-by-14-inch D-shaped sheer fendering extending aft from the middle bow fender and around the stern.
Accommodations will be provided for six crewmembers in four staterooms.
