Conrad Delivers Two Asphalt Barges To Parker Towing

Conrad Shipyard has announced delivery of a pair of 30,000-barrel asphalt barges to Parker Towing Company of Tuscaloosa, Ala. Named the PTC 2001 and the PTC 2002, the double-skinned barges measure 297 feet 6 inches by 54 feet, with a depth of 12 feet.

Each barge is outfitted with one Volcanic thermal fluid heater unit rated for 8 million BTU, a 99 kW John Deere generator, three Nabrico deck cranes, four Patterson 40-ton winches and a Bergan alarm system.

“We are pleased to announce the delivery of the tank barges PTC 2001 and PTC 2002 to Parker Towing,” Conrad CEO Johnny Conrad said in a statement. “Our two companies have a rich and storied history of providing outstanding services to our customers, and it was a pleasure to work closely with their management team to deliver these vessels.”

The PTC 2001 was built at Conrad’s Deepwater South facility in Amelia, La., while the PTC 2002 was built at the company’s Front Street facility in Morgan City, La. Conrad operates three other facilities in both Louisiana and Texas.

“Conrad has been on our short list for several projects in the past several years,” said Terah Huckabee, Parker Towing’s senior vice president of corporate development. “So when we got together on this project, we were excited to have the opportunity to work with them. Their project management, construction processes and quality all lived up to their reputation, and we are proud to add these barges to our expanding liquid fleet.”

Parker Towing operates a fleet of towboats, more than 400 open and covered hopper barges and a growing fleet of 30,000-barrel tank barges. The company moves coal, steel and steel-related products, aggregates, forest products, grain products, cement, asphalt and other petroleum products on the nation’s inland waterways.