On 8 April 2019 Jensen Maritime Consultants, the Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering subsidiary of Crowley Maritime Corp, announced the awarding of a contract to design ship assist and escort tugboats for Moran Towing Corp, a New Canaan, Conn, tug-and-barge operator on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts.
The new boats will be the latest in a series of seven Jensen-designed tugboats for Moran over the past decade.
New features on the tugboats include upgrades to meet the latest ABS regulations and US Coast Guard subchapter M regulations, as well as meeting US EPA Tier IV requirements.
The upgrades will ensure the vessels meet current and future demands for performance and manoeuvrability, and that piping and electrical systems are consistent with Moran’s larger fleet of tugs and barges.
The tugs will measure 86ft long and 36ft wide. Jensen designed this series of tugboats to provide the performance needed for ship assist and escort work on the East and Gulf Coasts.
Equipped with two Caterpillar 3512E, EPA Tier IV engines with 2,550 horsepower each, and Rolls Royce Z-drive propulsion units, the tugs each deliver more than 5,000 horsepower. The boats offer bollard pull of 68 short tons.
A deep skeg forward is included in the design for escort work, but the skeg will remain open at the aft end to allow for better manoeuvrability.
The skeg also provides for a more stable platform when underway, minimising rolling due to the seaway. Each boat has a depth of 15 feet, 10 inches.
