December 6 - The first of four Ocean Class tugboats under construction at Bollinger Shipyards in Amelia, Louisiana for Lake Charles, Louisiana-based Crowley Maritime Corp has been launched.
The Ocean Wave is classed as a Dynamic Positioning 1 (DP1) tugboat and is twin-screw, steel-hulled with an overall length of 44.5 m, beam of 14 m, hull depth of 7.6 m and design draft of 6.4 m.
The second two tugs of the class, Ocean Sky and Ocean Sun, will be classed as DP2 and will be 3 m longer. The Ocean Wind will have the same specifications as the Ocean Wave.
The new tugs will be ideally suited to work with Crowley's new 455-series heavy lift deck barges, which measure 121.9 m by 32 m, and offer increased stability for loads up to 4,200 pounds per square foot, says the company. 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.
The Ocean Wave is scheduled for delivery in early 2012. The remaining tugs are expected to be completed by the end of 2013.
