AUGUST 5, 2013--Bisso Towboat Co., Inc., Luling, LA, recently signed a contract with Main Iron Works, LLC, Houma, LA, to construct a 4,480 hp ASD ship-assist tug.

The new tug will be 100 ft x 38 ft x 18 and will be powered by two Caterpillar 3516C Tier 3 compliant main engines, which will produce 2,240 hp each at 1,600 rev/min. Propulsion will e supplied by two Rolls-Royce US 205 fixed pitch Z-drives featuring 90.4 in diameter x 82.4 in pitch four-blade stainless steel propellers set in stainless steel nozzles.

Electrical service will be provided by two 99kW Marathon generators powered by John Deere Model 4045AFM85 Tier 3 engines. The tug will be equipped with one JonRie Intertech Series 230 hydraulci bow winch equipped with 500 feet of 8 in circumference synthetic hawser. The tug's bollard pull is estimated at 60 tons.

Tankage includes capacities for 30,163 gal of diesel fuel, 1,826 gal of lube oil and hydraulic oil, and 10,938 gal of potable water.

Main Iron Works will begin construction this fall, with delivery in early 2015.

The new tug contract continues a long relationship between the owner and the shipyard. It is the fifth ASD ship-assist tug built by Main Iron Works in the past 15 years for Bisso and ninth overall in the past 23 years for the Luling, LA, owner.

Once delivered, the tug will be the fifteenth in Bisso's fleet.