Articulated tug-barge units in service in North America

Following is a list of articulated tug-barge units (ATBs) in service in U.S. and Canadian waters. Listed alphabetically by company name. Updated as of May 2015.

Karen Andrie, operated by Andrie Inc., Muskegon, Mich.; 120 ft; 4,000 hp; built 1965; converted to JAK coupler system 2009; matched with 50,000-bbl heated asphalt barge Endeavour, 2009, constructed at Jeffboat Inc.

Danielle M. Bouchard & Brendan Bouchard, operated by Bouchard Transportation Co.; 10,000 hp & 6,140 hp; 150 ft & 127 ft; built 1997 & 1999; Intercon coupler systems; matched with barges in Jones Act petroleum service.

Buster Bouchard, Marion C. Bouchard & Capt. Fred Bouchard, operated by Bouchard Transportation Co.; 6,000 hp; 128 ft; Intercon coupler systems; all conversions to ATB status completed 2000-2004; matched with barges in Jones Act petroleum service.

Jane A. Bouchard & Morton S. Bouchard IV, operated by Bouchard Transportation Co.; 2003-2004; 6,140 hp; 130 ft; barges carry refined oil products; U.S. East & Gulf Coasts; Intercon coupler systems; 155,000 bbls.

Linda Lee Bouchard, operated by Bouchard Transportation Co.; 2006; 6,140 hp; 130 ft; Intercon coupler system; matched with 100,000-bbl barge in Jones Act petroleum service.

Bouchard Girls, Rhea I. Bouchard, Robert J. Bouchard & Ralph E. Bouchard operated by Bouchard Transportation Co.; conversions to ATB Intercon system; coupled with oil barges for East Coast service.

J. George Betz, operated by Bouchard Transportation Co.; built 1995; 127 ft; 6,140 hp; converted to Intercon coupler system 2010; matched with barge B. No. 235, 483 ft, 138,000 bbls.

Ellen S. Bouchard, operated by Bouchard Transportation Co.; 112 ft; 3,900 hp; converted to Intercon coupler system; matched with barge in Jones Act petroleum service.

Barbara E. Bouchard, operated by Bouchard Transportation Co.; 127 ft; 6,140 hp; converted to Intercon coupler system 2012; matched with barge in Jones Act petroleum service.

Evening Star, operated by Bouchard Transportation Co.; 112 ft; 4,000 hp; Intercon coupler system, built 2012; matched with barge B. No. 250 in Jones Act petroleum service.

Denise A. Bouchard, operated by Bouchard Transportation Co.; 112 ft; 4,000 hp; built 2013; Intercon Coupler system; matched with barge B. No. 284.

Sam B, operated by Brice Inc.; Fairbanks, Alaska; 78 ft; 1,500 hp; triple screw; built 2007; Articouple connection system; matched with 224-foot flat deck barge L.A. B for operations in Alaskan waters and abroad.

Alulaq, operated by Brice Inc.; Fairbanks, Alaska; 69.5 ft; 1,437 hp; triple screw; built 2013; JAK-200 coupling system; matched with 173-foot Drift River.

Sea Reliance, Ocean Reliance, Sound Reliance & Coastal Reliance, operated by Crowley Maritime; 9,280 hp; 126 ft; new 2002-2003; barges 550-1 through 550-4 carry refined oil products; U.S. West Coast; Intercon coupler systems; 155,000 bbls.

Pacific Reliance & Gulf Reliance, operated by Crowley Maritime; 9,280 hp; 127 ft; introduced 2006; operating with tank barges 650-1 & 650-2, 587 ft, 178,000 bbls.

Resolve, Integrity, Courage & Commitment, operated by Crowley Maritime; new 2007-2009; 9,280 hp; 135 ft; heavy fuel burners; Intercon coupler systems; with barges 650-3, 650-4, 650-5, 650-6; all 178,000-bbl capacity; petroleum products.

Pride, Achievement, Innovation & Vision, operated by Crowley Maritime; deliveries 2009-2011; 10,500 hp; 135 ft; heavy fuel burners; Intercon coupler systems; with barges 650-7, 650-8, 650-9, 650-10; all 185,000 bbl capacity; petroleum and chemical products.

Legacy, Legend, & Liberty, operated by Crowley Maritime; 148 ft; 16,320 hp; Intercon coupler systems; with barges 750-1, 750-2, 750-3; all 327,000 bbl capacity; petroleum and chemical products.

Ken Boothe Sr., operated by Donjon Marine; built at Donjon Shipyard, Erie, Penn., 2011; 135 ft; 10,800 hp; matched with 740-foot self-unloading barge Lakes Contender, entering service 2012; carries bulk cargoes on Great Lakes.

Baltimore, operated by Express Marine; 125 ft; 3,600 hp; converted to JAK pin system 2008; matched with 470-foot dry bulk barge EMI 1850, transports coal.  

Freedom, operated by Express Marine; 115 ft; 6,000 hp with Steerprop ASD propulsion system; matched with 480-ft coal barge EMI 2400, both built 2010; JAK coupler system; transports coal.

Sea Eagle II (Canadian), operated by Fettes Shipping Inc.; 7,200 hp; 132 ft; built 1979; Bludworth coupler system; self-unloading barge St Marys Cement II carries cement (and other granular products); Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway; 496 ft; 18,500 tons.

Strong, operated by Foss Maritime; 6,800 hp; 150 ft; built 1978; Artubar coupler system; barge Mariner carries ro-ro cargoes of trailers, cars, and deck cargo; 9,100-sq-ft deck area; Pacific routes in U.S., Hawaii & Alaska; 568 ft long; 13,375 gross tons.

Thunder, operated by Foss Maritime; 120 ft; 8,400 hp; built 1992; Bludworth coupler system; ro-ro barge Lightning carrying liquid cargo, deck cargo & containers, 7,164 dwt, 460 ft.

Jane Ann IV (Canadian), operated by Great Lakes Transport Ltd.; Halifax; 8,000 hp; 137 ft; Bark River articulation system converted 2000; converted self-unloading freighter/barge Sarah Spencer carries bulk cargoes to 23,000 dwt; 611 ft.

Emery Zidell, operated by Harley Marine Services, Seattle, Wash.; 4,492 hp, 116 ft; built 2014; Taisei Engineering Articouple FRC 55; matched with 80,000-bbl oil barge Dr. Robert Beall; West Coast service.

Dorothy Ann, operated by Interlake Steamship; 7,200 hp; 124 ft; azimuthing z-drive propulsion; 1999; Bark River articulation system; self-unloading barge Pathfinder (converted freighter); carries bulk cargoes on Great Lakes; 23,350 tons; 606 ft.

Island Monarch (Canadian), operated by Island Tug & Barge, Vancouver, B.C.; 3,000 hp; 134 ft; converted to Intercon coupler system 2003; barge Island Trader carries petroleum products; West Coast Canadian fuel deliveries; built 2003 in China; 65,000 bbls.

Adriatic Sea, Beaufort Sea, Java Sea, Kara Sea, Tasman Sea & Norwegian Sea, operated by Kirby Corp.; 3,300 to 4,800 hp; converted to JAK 400 coupler systems; converted or new double-hull oil barges; deliver petroleum or liquid-bulk products; U.S. East & Gulf Coasts.

Lincoln Sea, operated by Kirby Corp.; New York; 7,000 hp; 124 ft; built 1999 by J.M. Martinac Tacoma, Wash.; Intercon coupler system; double-hull petroleum products; barge DBL 140; 140,000 bbls; 504 ft.

Davis Sea, operated by Kirby Corp.; approx. 2,000 hp; converted to JAK coupler system 2005; with barges DBL-105, DBL-28 and DBL-27.

Labrador Sea, operated by Kirby Corp.; 2,400 hp; converted 2008 to JAK coupler system; matched with 30,000-bbl bunker barge.

Irish Sea, Rebel & Viking, operated by Kirby Corp.; 5,700 hp, 7,200 hp and 4,300 hp respectively; converted 2007 to JAK coupler system; matched with double-hull petroleum barges.

Bismarck Sea, operated by Kirby Corp.; 1976; 5,700 hp; matched with tank barge DBL-106, 100,000 bbls; JAK coupler system.

Nathan E. Stewart, operated by Kirby Corp.; 100 ft; 2001; converted to JAK coupler system; matched with barge DBL 54, 50,000 bbls, chartered from Zidell Marine Corp.; engaged in West Coast service.

Dublin Sea, operated by Kirby Corp.; 10,000 hp; built 2009; Intercon coupler system; matched with 185,000-bbl petroleum barge, DBL-185; attached to K-Sea West Coast division.

William J. Moore (Canadian), operated by Kirby Corp.; 4,400 hp; 135 ft; Bludworth connection system; barge McCleary’s Spirit carries refined petroleum products on Saint Lawrence River & Lake Ontario; 95,000 bbls.

Sea Eagle, operated by Kirby Corp.; 5,600 hp; 125 ft; built 1998; Bludworth coupler system; barge TMI 17 carries chemical & petroleum products; 17,000 dwt.

Sea Raven, operated by Kirby Corp.; 7,200 hp; 120 ft; built 1978; Bludworth coupler system; barge ATC 23 carries chemical & petroleum products coastwise U.S.; 19,946 dwt; 490 ft.

Sea Hawk, operated by Kirby Corp.; 8,000 hp; 124 ft; built 2002; Intercon connection system; barge ATC 21 carries chemical product Gulf Coast & Eastern Seaboard; 129,000 bbls; 450 ft.

Osprey, operated by Kirby Corp.; 5,800-hp single screw with CP prop; with barge ATC 25, converted to double hull; 170,000-bbl petroleum/chemical products.

Jason E. Duttinger, operated by Kirby Corp.; 6,000 hp; 125 ft; built 2013; matched with barge Winna Wilson; Articouple connection system.

Captain Donald Lowe Sr., operated by Kirby Corp.; 6,000 hp; 125 ft; built 2013; matched with barge Margo Dale; Articouple connection system.

Samuel de Champlain, owned by LaFarge North America; operated by Andrie Inc., 7,200 hp; 150 ft; converted 2006 to Bludworth connection system; operates with barge Innovation; 460 ft; 17,000 tons of cement products; operates on Great Lakes.

GL Ostrander, owned by LaFarge North America; operated by Andrie Inc., 7,200 hp; 140 ft; refit 1996; Bludworth coupler system; self-unloading barge Integrity carries cement on Great Lakes; capacity 14,000 tons; 460 ft.

Orion & Martin Explorer, operated by Martin Midstream Partners; 6,000 hp; 145 ft; Bludworth coupler systems; barges Poseidon & Margaret Sue carry bulk liquids & sulfur, respectively; 16,800 & 10,500 dwt; 415 ft & 445 ft.

Texan, operated by Martin Midstream Partners; 5,000 hp; 96 ft; built 1980; Bludworth coupler system; barge Ponciana carries liquefied petroleum gas & liquefied flammable gas; 6,072 dwt; 391 ft.

La Force, operated by Martin Midstream Partners; 124 ft; 5,600 hp; converted to Bludworth coupler system; combined with barge M6000, built at Bollinger Shipyard 2009; 350 ft, 55,000 bbls, clean oil products in Jones Act trade.

Everlast (Canadian), operated by McAsphalt Marine Transportation, Hamilton, Ontario; 6,000 hp; built in Japan; Articouple connection system; barge Norman McLeod carries heated asphalt products on Great Lakes & Saint Lawrence River; 70,000 bbls; 379 ft.

Victorious (Canadian), operated by McAsphalt Marine Transportation, Hamilton, Ontario; 5,300 hp; built in China 2009; matched with 70,000-bbl product barge John J. Carrick, built in China, 2009; Articouple connection system, heated asphalt cargoes on Great Lakes.

Wilf Seymour, operated by McKeil Marine, Ontario; 122 ft; 5,750 hp; built 1961; converted to Bludworth pushing system 2006; with barge Alouette Spirit; 400 ft; dry-bulk cargoes; Great Lakes and Eastern Seaboard.

Paul T. Moran, operated by Moran Towing Corp., New York; 7,200 hp; 150 ft; Bludworth articulation system converted 1999; repowered 2010; with barge Massachusetts; 1982; double-hulled 2005; delivers petroleum products on Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard; 430 ft; 140,000 bbls.

Barney Turecamo, operated by Moran Towing Corp., New York; 5,100 hp; 121 ft; converted 2005 to Intercon connection system; barge Georgia; 2005, carries petroleum products on Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard; 118,000 bbls; 425 ft.

Scott Turecamo, operated by Moran Towing Corp., New York; 5,100 hp; 121 ft; converted 2004 to Intercon connection system; barge New Hampshire; 2004, carries petroleum products on Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard; 118,000 bbls; 425 ft.

Pati R. Moran and Linda Moran, operated by Moran Towing Corp.; 121 ft; 5,100 hp; Intercon coupler system; new 2007 and 2008; matched with 118,000-bbl oil barges Charleston and Houston.

Lois Ann L. Moran, operated by Moran Towing Corp.; built 2008; 121 ft; 5,100 hp; Intercon coupler system; barge Philadelphia; 2008; carries petroleum products on Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard; 118,000 bbls; 425 ft.

Mary Ann Moran, operated by Moran Towing Corp.; 121 ft; 5,100 hp; new 2010; coupled with converted dry bulk barge Virginia; built 1982; Intercon connection system; carrying grain cargoes between New Orleans and Puerto Rico.

Spartan, owned by Occidental Chemical, Ludington, Mich.; 3,400 hp; 128 ft; Bludworth coupler system installed 1979; matched with barge Spartan II; 407-foot tank barge built 1981, carries calcium chloride on Great Lakes.

OSG Honour & OSG Enterprise, operated by OSG Ship Management; 5,600 hp; converted to Bludworth connection systems; barges OSG-214 & OSG-209.

OSG Navigator & OSG Intrepid, operated by OSG Ship Management; 5,600 hp; 136 ft; refits 1993 & 1986; Intercon coupler system; barges OSG 252 & OSG 254; carry petroleum products East & Gulf Coasts; 30,567 dwt; 546 ft.

OSG Independence & OSG Columbia operated by OSG Ship Management; 125 ft, 1980 and 1981, 5,600 hp and 6,140 hp; assigned to oil barges OSG 242 & OSG 243 with Bludworth connection systems.

OSG Vision, OSG Horizon, operated by OSG Ship Management; constructed at VT Halter shipyard (previously at Bender Shipyard); 12,000-hp heavy fuel burners with CP props; matched with 342,000-bbl petroleum barges OSG 350 and OSG 351; Intercon coupler systems; lightering crude oil Delaware Bay.

OSG Courageous & OSG Endurance, operated by OSG Ship Management; 8,000 hp; 139 ft; built 2011; Intercon coupler system; barges OSG 192 & OSG 244 carry petroleum products East & Gulf Coasts.

Amberjack — converted to conventional tug, operated by Penn Maritime; 3,900 hp; 116 ft; built 1981; converted to Bludworth articulation system 1998; barge Biscayne (ex-Morania 450); carries heated oil products; 70,000 bbls; 405 ft; built 1981; conversion 1998.

Eliza & Lucia, operated by Penn Maritime; 7,000 hp; 127 ft; built 1995; Intercon coupler system; barges Atlantic & Caribbean carry asphalt; East & Gulf coasts; 18,000 dwt; 460 ft.

Teresa & Julie, operated by Penn Maritime; 7,000 hp; 127 ft; new 1997-98; Intercon coupler system; barges Acadia & Yucatan carry heated oil products; East Coast, Gulf Coast & offshore; 160,000 bbls; 490 ft.

Valiant, operated by Penn Maritime; 8,000 hp; acquired in 1998; converted to Bludworth connection system; barge Everglades carries heated petroleum products; 180,000 bbls.

Capt. Hagen, operated by Penn Maritime; 6,000 hp; 123 ft; built 2004; Intercon coupler system; barge Key West; 140,000 bbls; built 2004; carries petroleum products; Gulf of Mexico.

Tarpon & Dolphin, operated by Penn Maritime; 4,300 hp; converted to JAK coupler systems 2006; with barges Potomac and Penn 410; both 80,000 bbls; carrying heated oil and asphalt cargoes.

Skipjack & Coho, operated by Penn Maritime; 4,000 hp; 116 ft; JAK coupler system; new 2008/2009; matched with 90,000-bbl heated oil barges.

Yellowfin, Bluefin & Mako, operated by Penn Maritime, new 2009-2011; 4,000 hp; JAK coupler system, matched with 90,000-bbl heated asphalt barges.

Pere Marquette, operated by Pere Marquette Shipping; 2,500 hp; 143 ft; built 1944; rebuilt 1998; custom articulation system; barge Pere Marquette 41 carries quasi-bulk cargoes on Great Lakes; 5,300 tons; 403 ft; built as ferry 1941; in service summer 1998.

Prentiss Brown, operated by Port City Marine Services, Muskegon, Mich.; 118 ft, 4,300 hp, built 1967; converted to Bludworth connection system 2008; matched with self-unloading 505-foot cement barge, St. Mary’s Challenger (ex-Medusa Challenger, converted former steamer 2014, in Great Lakes service.

Bradshaw McKee, operated by Port City Marine Services, Muskegon, Mich.; 118 ft, 4,300 hp, built 1977; converted to Bludworth connection system 2008; matched with self-unloading 437-foot cement barge, St. Mary’s Conquest (ex-Southdown Conquest), converted former steamer, in Great Lakes service.

Invincible, operated by Rand Logistics and Grand River Navigation, Cleveland, Ohio; 5,600 hp; 100 ft; built 1979; Bludworth coupler system; self-unloading barge McKee Sons carrying dry-bulk cargo; 579 ft; 20,000 tons.

Victory, operated by Rand Logistics and Lower Lakes Towing; 8,000 hp; upgraded with Hydraconn connection system and matched with 815-ft barge James L. Kuber (ex-Steamer, Reserve) 2008; carries bulk cargoes on Great Lakes.

Olive L. Moore, operated by Rand Logistics and Lower Lakes Towing; 125 ft; 5,830 hp; connected by Hydraconn coupler system to 621-ft barge Lewis J. Kuber; carries dry bulk cargoes on Great Lakes.

Dace Reinauer, Joanne Reinauer, Lucy Reinauer, operated by Reinauer Transportation; conversions 2007-08; JAK coupler systems; with petroleum transport barges; East Coast.

Timothy L. Reinauer, Craig Eric Reinauer, Morgan Reinauer, Austin Reinauer, operated by Reinauer Transportation; repowered and converted to Intercon C coupler system 2004-2009; with interchangeable 100,000-bbl barges; petroleum products on East Coast.

Stephen Reinauer, operated by Reinauer Transportation, New York; 108 ft; 3,000 hp; converted to ATB in 2007; with new oil barge; 80,000 bbls; JAK system; carries petroleum products Eastern Seaboard.

Nicole Leigh Reinauer, Christian Reinauer & Meredith Reinauer operated by Reinauer Transportation, New York; 7,200 hp; 124 ft; built 1999, 2001 & 2003 by Atlantic Marine, Jacksonville, Fla., & Mobile Ala.; Intercon coupler systems; barges RTC 135, RTC 145 & RTC 150 carry clean petroleum products on Eastern Seaboard; 135,000 to 150,000 bbls.

Ruth M. Reinauer, Laurie Ann Reinauer, operated by Reinauer Transportation, constructed Senesco Shipyard 2009-10; 4,000 hp; Intercon coupler systems, matched with new 80,000 to 100,000-bbl barges, also from Senesco Shipyard.

Reinauer Twins, operated by Reinauer Transportation; built Senesco Shipyard 2011; Intercon C coupler system; matched with new 100,000-bbl oil barge, also from Senesco Shipyard.

B. Franklin Reinauer and Curtis Reinauer, operated by Reinauer Transportation; built Senesco Shipyard 2012; with oil barges; 80,000 bbls, JAK system; carries petroleum products Eastern Seaboard.

Dean Reinauer, operated by Reinauer Transportation; built Senesco Marine 2013; with oil barge RTC 106; 100,000 bbls; Intercon coupler system.

Haggerty Girls, operated by Reinauer Transportation; 4,700 hp; built 2013; JAK coupler system

Seaspan Challenger (Canadian), operated by Seaspan Marine Corp., Vancouver; 3,600 hp; 131 ft; single screw; built 1970; converted to JAK coupler system 2002; barge Coastal Spirit deck cargoes servicing Vancouver Island, built in China, 2001.

Arctic Taglu & Arctic Hooper (Canadian), operated by Seaspan Marine Corp., Vancouver; 2,250 hp; 110 ft; Sea Link articulation systems; ro-ro trailer barges Georgia Link & Fraser Link; servicing Vancouver & western Canada.

Joseph H. Thompson Jr., operated by Upper Lakes Towing, Escanaba, Mich.; 7,500 hp; 146 ft; triple screw; 1990; converted self-unloading freighter/barge Joseph H. Thompson carrying bulk cargoes on Great Lakes; 1944; 706 ft; 21,000 dwt.

Naida Ramil, operated by United Maritime Group; 7,000 hp; 124 ft; converted to Bludworth coupler system 2003; barge Peggy Palmer delivering dry-bulk cargoes Caribbean & worldwide; 34,000 dwt; 550 ft.

Sharon DeHart, operated by United Maritime Group; 5,210 hp; 136 ft; built 1973; Bludworth coupler system; barge Doris Guenther delivers bulk cargo worldwide; 26,000 dwt; 547 ft.

Janis Guzzle & Betty Wood, operated by United Maritime Group; 7,200 hp; 150 ft; Artubar coupler systems; barges Marie Flood & Pat Cantrell carry bulk cargoes Gulf Coast & worldwide; 33,000 dwt; 650 ft & 550 ft.

Freeport, Galveston, Brownsville & Corpus Christi, operated by U.S. Shipping Corp.; 150 ft; 12,000 hp; Intercon coupler system; built 2007-09; matched with 146,000-bbl oil/chemical barges.

Brandywine & Christiana, operated by Vane Brothers of Baltimore; 123 ft; 6,000 hp; built 2006-2007; Intercon coupler system; matched with barge DS-141 and DS-143, 480 ft, 135,000 bbls.

Houma, operated by Vane Brothers of Baltimore; built 1970; 1,950 hp; JAK coupler system.

Joyce L. VanEnkevort, operated by VanEnkevort Tug & Barge, Escanaba, Mich.; 10,200 hp; 135 ft; built 1998; Hydracon articulation system; bulk cargo barge Great Lakes Trader carries bulk cargo; 40,000 tons; 740 ft; built by VT Halter Marine.

Cavek, operated by Vitus Marine, Anchorage, Alaska, for the Alaskan Village Electric Coop; 76 ft, 1,800 hp; built 2011; coupler, Taisei Engineering Articouple FRC-35; matched with 208-ft, 10,000-bbl oil barge that also carries deck cargo; serves Western Alaskan communities.

Naniq, operated by Vitus Marine, Anchorage, Alaska, for the Alaskan Village Electric Coop; 76 ft, 1,800 hp; built 2011; Taisei Engineering Articouple FRC-35; matched with 183-ft, 8,000-bbl oil barge that also carries deck cargo; serves Western Alaskan communities.

By Professional Mariner Staff