Bisso orders new ASD ship-assist tug

The following is the text of a press release from Bisso Towboat Co.: 

(LULING, La.) — Bisso Towboat Co. Inc. is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with Main Iron Works LLC, Houma, LA, to begin construction of a 4480 HP ASD Ship-Assist Tugboat.

The new tug will measure 100' x 38' x 18.0' and will be powered by (2) Caterpillar 3516C Tier 3 Main Engines producing 2240 HP each at 1600 RPM. Propulsion will be provided by (2) Rolls-Royce US 205 FP Z-drives featuring 90.4" diameter x 82.4" pitch four blade stainless steel propellers set in stainless steel nozzles.

Electrical service will be provided by (2) 99KW Marathon generators powered byjohn Deere Model  Tier 3 engines. The tug will be equipped with (l) JonRie Intertech Series 230 Hydraulic Bow Winch equipped with 500' of 8” circumference synthetic hawser. Bollard Pull is estimated to be 60 Tons.

Tankage inclucles capacities for 30,163 gallons of diesel fuel, 1,826 gallons each of lube and hydraulic oil and 10,938 gallons of potable water. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2013 with delivery in early 2015.

This tug will be the fifth ASD Ship-Assist Tugboat constructed in the past 15 years for Bisso by Main Iron Works and the ninth new tug constructed in the past 23 years for Bisso by Main iron Works. The new tug will bring the total number of tugs in the Bìsso fleet to 13.

Founded in 1890, Bisso is the oldest continuously operating tugboat company on the Mississippi River and operates the largest fleet of ASD Ship-Assist Tugs on the Mississippi River.

By Professional Mariner Staff