Shipbuilder will build articulated tug barge for Bouchard Transportation.
VT Halter Marine Inc., Pascagoula, Miss., has received a contract to build an Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) unit with an option unit for Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc., Melville, N.Y.
According to Bouchard, an oil barging services company, the barge will measure 625 feet by 91 feet by 47 feet, have a 250,000-barrel capacity and will be used to transport liquid petroleum. According to VT Halter, the barge is certified by both the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for Jones Act service. The 10,000 horsepower twin screw ATB tug is classed by ABS as an A1 Towing Vessel, Dual Mode ATB, USCG Subchapter M, and will be equipped with an Intercon coupler system.
Construction of the unit is expected to begin April 2013 at VT Halter’s Pascagoula facility, with delivery scheduled by the middle of 2015. This unit will enter into Bouchard’s fleet service in New York City.
“We are pleased to enter into this contract with VT Halter Marine for the construction of the ATB M/V Bouchard Boys and B.No.270, with an option for the construction of a second unit,” says Morton Bouchard III, president and CEO of Bouchard Transportation. “The Bouchard Boys & B.No.270 will compliment Bouchard’s growing gulf coast fleet and further our ongoing commitment to the Jones Act. Bouchard is pleased to have chosen VT Halter Marine for this project due to our long relationship and history of successful projects,”
Bill Skinner, CEO of VT Halter Marine, says, “We appreciate Bouchard Transportation’s confidence in VT Halter Marine and we’re delighted to continue our relationship with this long-standing and valued customer. Our team looks forward to delivering another quality built ATB unit to the Bouchard Family.”
VT Halter Marine, the marine operations of VT Systems, designs, builds and repairs a wide variety of ocean-going vessels such as patrol vessels, oil recovery vessels, oil cargo vessels, ferries, logistic support vessels and survey vessels.