From Eastern Shipbuilding Group:
(PANAMA CITY, Fla.) — Eastern Shipbuilding Group has delivered the second of two 80-foot, 5,100-hp z-drive tugs, A. Thomas Higgins, for Bisso Offshore LLC, a division of E.N. Bisso & Son Inc. of New Orleans. The vessel completed its bollard pull testing witnessed by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and received its U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter M certificate of inspection (COI).
A. Thomas Higgins is a RApport 2400 ship-handling tug design provided by Robert Allan Ltd. of Vancouver, British Columbia. A sister vessel, C.D. White, was delivered in January and is currently working in New Orleans.
E.N. Bisso has taken delivery of five modern z-drive ship-assist tugs from Eastern starting in 2007. These two new RApport 2400 design tugs have been customized by the designer, the builder, and owner to provide specific operational features including a high bollard pull forward and aft, enhanced maneuverability and escort performance, better fuel economy, crew comfort, safety under the new Subchapter M requirements and reduced emissions meeting the new EPA Tier 4 emissions regulations.
In January, Liz Higgins broke the christening bottle on the first try to begin the launching of the vessel. The vessel is named after her husband, A. Thomas “Tommy” Higgins.
The RApport 2400 tugs features the following characteristics:
Dimensions (molded): 80’ by 38’ by 13’2”
ESG designation: Hull 226
Fuel oil: 28,000 gallons
DEF/urea: 1,700 gallons
Potable water: 8,750 gallons
Total horsepower: (2) 2,549 hp a 1,800 rpm
Bollard pull (predicted): 65 tons
Main engines: (2) Caterpillar 3512E EPA Tier 4/IMO III marine propulsion diesel engines
Main propulsion: (2) Kongsberg/Rolls-Royce US205 P20 z-drives
Main generators: (2) John Deere 4045AFM85 Tier 3 EPA certified, each rated at 99 kW at 1,800 rpm
Firefighting: Counterfire ES-125-400, 1,500 gpm at 100 psi, diesel engine driven and 4-inch Stang remote-controlled fire monitor
Forward hawser winch: Markey DEPCF-42 HS, single drum 40 hp
Aft capstan: Markey CEPB-40 5-hp tow bitt capstan
Tow hook: Washington Chain & Supply 90-ton SWL tow hook, electric-air remote control, manual or remote release
Regulatory: USCG Subchapter, Certificate of Inspection (COI) (Oceans), Designed and Built to ABS Class standards (but not classed under ABS rules)
Flag: United States of America
