Eastern Shipbuilding inks deal for four Z-drive tugs

Written by Marine Log Staff
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The Chloe K, a Z-Tech 2400 design escort tug, was delivered to Bay Houston Towing Co., last year by Leevac Shipyards

AUGUST 15, 2014—Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Panama City, FL, has signed contracts to build four 80 ft terminal and escort Z-drive tugs, two for Suderman & Young Towing Co. and two for Bay Houston Towing Co. The first and third in the series will be delivered to Suderman & Young and the second and fourth to Bay Houston. The first two tugs will be delivered in 2015 and the second two in 2016, according to an Eastern Shipbuilding spokesperson.

The tugs will be based on a Z-Tech 4000 design by naval architectural firm Robert Allan Ltd., Vancouver, BC, Canada.

G&H Towing Co., Galveston, TX, will provide onsite owners’ representation during the engineering, design and construction phases of the contracts. G&H Towing will also operate the tugs.

Last year, Suderman & Young took delivery of the Zeus, and Bay Houston took delivery of the Chloe K, both Z-Tech 2400 design tugs, from Leevac Shipyards, Jennings, LA.

The new series of tugs being built by Eastern Shipbuilding will have an overall length of 80 ft, beam of 38 ft 3 in and depth of 15 ft 9 in. The main engines will be two EPA Tier 3 compliant Caterpillar 3516C (B rating) diesel engines, each rated at 2,775 hp at 1,600 rev/min, that drive two Schottel SRP 1215 FP nozzled Z-drives. The main generators will be two EPA Tier 3 compliant John Deere 4045AFM85 diesel engines, rated at 99 kW 480 V at 1,800 rev/min.

The hawser winch will be an electric Markey Machinery Fairleader DECPCF-48S, with a 36 in. wide drum, with a mid-drum brake holding capacity of 300,000 lbs.

The tugs will be classed ABS +A1, Towing Vessel, AMS and Escort Service, ABS Loadline (SoC), Statement of Compliance.

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