Vane Lines Bunkering , a subsidiary of Vane Brothers, took delivery of its first ATB in January. The 6,000-hp tug Brandywine (twin EMD 710s), matched with the Double Skin 141 , is the first of two 145,000-bbl. ATB units for the Baltimore-based company. The 123′ × 38′ × 22′ Brandywine was constructed at Marinette Marine Corp., Marinette, Wis., while the matching 480′ × 78′ × 36’6″ barge was built simultaneously at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. The barge’s deep notch is fitted for Intercon’s new-generation coupling system. The ATB can handle all Subchapter O products and will work primarily in the Northeast.

Bollinger Shipyards , Lockport, La., also completed a new ATB recently. The double-hull, asphalt and residual fuel barge B. No. 205 has a capacity of 110,000 bbls. and was built at Bollinger’s Gretna yard. The tug Linda Lee Bouchard was built in Lockport. The 130′ × 38′ × 22′ tug is powered by twin EMD 16/645/F7BA turbocharged engines each rated at 3,070 hp. An Intercon coupler system connects the tug and barge. The new ATB was built for Bouchard Coastwise Management Corp ., Melville, N.Y. The barge is outfitted with three John Deere cargo pump engines, three SC Engineering cargo pumps and three John Deere generator units. Product temperature is maintained with two 12 million BTU thermal fluid heaters.

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. , Tacoma, Wash., is busy with several tugs, the first of which was about to be delivered in January to Sause Bros. Inc. , Coos Bay, Ore. The Mikiona is the first of two new oceangoing tugs being built at Martinac for Sause. The 128′ × 35′ × 15′ twin-screw tug is powered by a pair of MTU 16V4000 main engines, each rated at 1,875 hp at 1,600 rpm. With 104″ props in Nautican nozzles, bollard pull is anticipated to be 130,000 lbs. Free-running speed should be 12 knots. The Mikiona will also feature a new towing winch from Rapp Hydema. Martinac is also building a sister vessel for Sause and a pair of Z-drive tugs for Signet Maritime Corp ., Houston.

Entech Associates , Houma, La., has several of its designs under construction at various Gulf Coast yards. Hope Services , Dulac, La., recently completed a 72′ × 32′ Entech-designed pushboat for Higman Marine with four more to come this year. The 72-footers are powered by Cummins KTA38 MO mains rated at 850 hp.

Intracoastal Ironworks , Bourg, La., delivered the Entech-designed Katie Gonsoulin , another 72-footer, to LeBeouf Brothers Towing last fall and was scheduled to complete a sister vessel early this year. The boats are also powered by 850-hp Cummins KTA38 MO diesels. The mains are mated to 4-bladed 68″ wheels through Reintjes 464 marine gears with 6:1 reduction ratios.

An Entech triple-screw tug design is currently underway at Lockport Fabrication for Russell Plaisance , Galliano, La. Powered by three Cummins KTA19s, the 84′ × 27′ tug will have two open wheels on the outsides and a ducted propeller in the middle. Entech’s Frank Basile said the design will provide the required bollard pull as well as shallow draft. Lockport Fabrication is also finishing the Warren Thomas , the second of four 166′, DP-1 supply vessels for Supreme Offshore Services . Capacities include 2,500 bbls. of liquid mud and 33,000 gals. of methanol.

Another Entech triple-screw tug is under construction at Chiasson Welding , Larose, La., for Brice Construction , Fairbanks, Alaska. The 84′ × 36′ ATB tug will push a 248′ × 54′ fuel barge. The tug and barge will be connected with an Articouple system from Taisei Engineering in Japan. To achieve the desired 10-knot speed with the required shallow draft for river operations, three of Cummins’ new 660-hp QSK19 M engines were selected.

In early December, Gunderson Marine , Portland, Ore., launched and christened a new 400′ × 105′ × 25′ heavy-lift, flat-deck barge for Crowley Maritime Corp . The Marty J is the first of three Heavy Lift 455 deck barges built for deepwater work in the Gulf of Mexico.