Bisso Towboat takes deliver of ASD tractor tug newbuild

AUGUST 12, 2012 — Bisso Towboat Co., Inc., New Orleans, has taken delivery of its newest ship-assist tug, the 4,000 HP ASD tractor tug William S.

Constructed at Main Iron Works, Houma, La., the 100 ft x  38 ft x 13.5 ft William S. is powered by two Caterpillar 3516C main engines, producing 2,000 HP each at 1,600 RPM, which drive two UlsteinAquamaster US205 MK2 Z-drives. The Z-drives feature 90.6 in diameter x 82.4 in pitch four bladed stainless steel propellers set in stainless steel nozzles. Bollard pull is 110,000 lb (55 tons).

Electrical service is provided by two 99 kW Marathon generators powered by John Deere engines and the tug is equipped with a Market DYSF-42 hydraulic bow winch equipped with 500 ft of 8 in circumference Saturn 12 line.

Auxiliary equipment includes USCG-approved engine room monitoring and fire/smoke alarm systems and a complete navigation/electronics package featuring Simrad autopilot and Furuno radar.

Other features include sound proof insulation throughout crew quarters to reduce ambient noise levels, stainless steel bitts and bow staple, four bunk rooms with seven crew berths and flat screen TV s and DVD players in all bunk rooms.

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

The William S. will have a crew complement of four and carries an ABS international Loadline in addition to being ISM Certified by ABS and USCG Inspected/Certified.

The William S. is the fourth ASD tractor tug built for Bisso by Main Iron Works and the eighth new tug constructed for Bisso by Main Iron Works in the past 20 years.

The addition of the William S. brings the total number of ship-assist tugs in the Bisso fleet to twelve — the largest fleet of ASD tractor tugs on the Mississippi River.