Moran Towing Corporation To Add Two Tugboats From Master Boat Builders
Coden, Ala.-based Master Boat Builders has executed a contract to construct a pair of tugboats for Moran Towing Corporation, a New Canaan, Conn.-based provider of towing services and bulk marine transportation, along with LNG support operations and environmental recovery services. Moran Towing has operations all along the East Coast and Gulf Coast; in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and at Costa Azul LNG, just north of Ensenada, Mexico.
The two tugs will be the first Master Boat Builders has built for Moran Towing, one of the best-known tug service providers and, at 162 years old, one of the oldest marine operators in the United States.
“Moran is one of the most respected tugboat operators in the U.S., and we are honored they have chosen us to build their next set of tugs,” said Garrett Rice, president of Master Boat Builders.
Vessel Specs
The tugboats for Moran will measure 86 feet by 36 feet and offer a bollard pull in excess of 55 metric tons. The vessels will feature a pair of Caterpillar 3512E Tier 4 main engines, rated at 2,549 hp. each, paired to Kongsberg US 205S FP thrusters. They will also be equipped with a Markey Machinery Company DEPC-48 bow winch.
“We look forward to working with Master Boat on this project,” Sean Perreault, vice president of engineering services for Moran Towing, said in an announcement of the contract. “Master Boat has a great reputation for delivering quality equipment on a consistent basis, and we hope this new contract will lead to future opportunities for collaboration between the two companies. While we have an ongoing commitment to our traditional suppliers, our demand from customers has given us the opportunity to work with new partners that we hope will become long-term relationships.”
Crowley Engineering Services, Crowley Shipping’s naval architecture and marine engineering group, did the design work for the forthcoming tugboats, which will be Subchapter M-compliant and classed through the American Bureau of Shipping. Crowley Engineering Services also did the design of the eWolf tug, currently under construction at Master Boat Builders.
