Jensen Designs Tugs For Foss

Jensen Maritime, Seattle, Wash., reports that it has provided the detailed design for new Tier 4 tractor tugs being built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders for Foss Maritime.

The 90-short-ton bollard-pull tugs are based on Jensen’s popular Valor tugboat design, of which nine have been successfully built and deployed to date and an additional five remain under design/construction.

The initial contract calls for four of the vessels, with an option for six more. Once delivered, the Foss tugs will be deployed along the U.S. West Coast.

Powered by twin Z-drive propulsion units, the 100- by 40-foot tugs will be suitable for towing, offshore service, ship assist, escort, maneuvering and docking. The tugs feature a large fuel capacity for long trips, comfortable crew accommodations and a spacious engineroom along with an anchor windlass and chain locker, and a Markey TES-40 winch. Additionally, Jensen designed the tugs with some of the most advanced safety features in the industry, including a 900-gallons-per-minute fire pump and monitor, which will be powered from an onboard generator. The tugs will be Subchapter M compliant.

“Jensen continues to be a leading designer of multi-functional Tier IV tugboats for the American shipbuilding industry,” said Bryan Nichols, director of business development for Jensen. “In addition to this particular sized tug, we have multiple build-ready designs available, ranging in size from 74 feet up to 110 feet for anyone looking to upgrade or expand their fleet for a variety of nearshore or offshore capabilities.”

Jensen Maritime Consultants Inc. is a naval architecture and marine engineering firm owned by Crowley Maritime Corporation.