Foul weather didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the more than 100 people who celebrated the christening of Intrepid Ship Management’s newest SIU-crewed tug and accompanying double-hulled barge Oct. 18 in Sturgeon Bay, Wis.Seafarers are sailing aboard the 9,280-hp tug Ocean Reliance and 155,000-barrel barge 550-3, which together form a state-of-the-art articulated tug-barge (ATB). The ATB was built by The Manitowoc (Wis.) Company, Inc.
SIU Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey, SIU Vice President Great Lakes Tom Orzechowski and SIU Representative Todd Brdak represented the union at the christening, which took place in a steady downpour of rain and sleet.
An ATB has a hinged connection system between the tug and barge, which allows movement in one plane in the critical area of fore and aft pitch. The new ATB tank vessel incorporates the latest advances in environmental protection and safety while addressing increased efficiencies in hose handling, anchoring, mooring, discharge and loading of product.
The 550-3 is double hulled and the tug is double sided. The barge has an inert gas system as well as an enhanced cargo system and a fully redundant ballast system.
The Ocean Reliance meets all SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and American Bureau of Shipping criteria, and has a foam-capable fire monitor; twin fuel-efficient reduced emission electronic diesel engines; a noise reduction package and other upgrades to increase crew comfort. The communication and navigation equipment is among the most technologically advanced in the industry today.
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