Today, Gulf LNG Tugs of Port Arthur, LLC (Gulf LNG Tugs) announced the order of four RApport 2800 tugboats specifically designed to serve the Port Arthur LNG export facility. Two will be constructed by Master Boat Builders Inc., Coden, Ala., and two by Sterling Shipyard LLC, Port Neches, Texas.
Gulf LNG Tugs is a joint venture comprised of Bay-Houston Towing, Houston, Texas, Moran Towing Corporation, New Canaan, Conn., and Suderman & Young Towing Company, Houston. A released statement highlighted the three companies and their collective experience of over 400 years of providing ship assist and towing services.
The Port Arthur LNG export facility 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 92’x40’ RApport 2800 tugs, designed by naval architect Robert Allan Ltd., feature a compact design providing increased maneuverability in ship handling and escorting through waterways while including the latest in environmental and safety technologies, the statement said. Gulf LNG Tugs members each currently operate tugs of a similar hull design within their commercial fleets, with an additional four under construction.
Each vessel is being designed and built to stringent safety and environmental standards, to U.S. Coast Guard Sub-M regulations and ABS classification. The eco-designed tugs will feature EPA Tier-4 emission standard Caterpillar 3516 E main propulsion engines connected to Kongsberg US-255 FP-Z drives. Additionally, the tugboats will be outfitted with a Markey DESF-48-100 Electric Class III hawser winch to ensure optimal performance, including a Render-Recover feature for full bollard pull capacity.
The tugs will have a bollard pull capacity of more than 85 metric tons. Each tugboat will also be equipped with firefighting capabilities that exceed ABS Fire Fighting Vessel 1 (FFV1) classification to further enhance safety measures during terminal support operations.
The announcement comes three days after Master Boat Builders has launched the Patricia B. Moran, the first of a two-vessel series it is building for Moran Towing Corporation. The Patricia B. Moran was designed by Crowley Engineering Services, and is outfit with twin Caterpillar 3512E Tier 4 certified engines producing 2,550-hp. The Patricia B. Moran has two Kongsberg US 205S FP thrusters, a Markey DEPC-48 bow winch, and it will produce a bollard pull of over 55 metric tons.
