The 330,000-barrel capacity Articulated Tug-Barge (ATB) will transport petroleum projects throughout the U.S. West, Gulf and East Coasts.
Crowley Maritime Corp. has christened the 16,000-horsepower tugboat Legend and the 330,000-barrel tank barge 750-2 in Tampa, Fla. Together, the vessels comprise the company’s newest articulated tug-barge (ATB) and will be used to transport petroleum products between the U.S. Gulf and East Coasts, making regular port calls in Tampa where Crowley currently discharges nearly 163 million gallons of product each month.
The Legend/750-2 is the second of three petroleum tank vessels in its class in terms of size, speed and capacity in the Crowley fleet. Together, the two vessels measure 674 feet in length.
“We are extremely pleased to add another 750-class ATB to the fleet,” says Rob Grune, Crowley Petroleum Services senior vice president and general manager. “The Legacy/750-1 has proven to perform amazingly well and meet our customers’ needs. We are confident that, like the first of its kind, the Legend/750-2 will also exceed industry standards for the safest possible transportation of petroleum and chemical products.”
The Legend/750-2 is the second of three U.S. flag 750 Class ATBs to be built for Crowley. The first of its class, the Legacy/750-1, was christened in November 2011 and is at work in the U.S. Gulf Coast. The last of the three, the Liberty/750-3, is currently under construction and, when completed, will be operated in the Jones Act U.S. coastwise trade by Crowley's petroleum services group, along with the Legacy/750-1 and Legend/750-2. The three vessels will bring Crowley's total ATB fleet to 17, including four 155,000 barrel and ten 185,000-barrel ATBs.
Both barges were built by VT Halter Marine Inc., Pascagoula, Miss. The tugs Legend and Legacy were constructed by Dakota Creek Industries Inc. in Anacortes, Wash. The Liberty/750-3 is scheduled for delivery during the first half of 2013.
“It’s great to be able to share another milestone with the people who were an integral part of designing and creating such an innovative vessel, which will continue to help us provide our customers with the best available technology, safety and cost effectiveness for years to come,” Grune says. “We’re looking forward to doing it again once the final 750-class vessel is completed and ready to work.”