Great Lakes Shipyard wins $5 million order for two tugs

SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 — Great Lakes Shipyard, Cleveland, Ohio, has been contracted by New York Power Authority (NYPA) to build and deliver two new tugboats for the Authority’s Niagara River Ice Boom Operations in Buffalo, NY.

They will augment and replace existing vessels currently used for the installation, removal, and maintenance of the Lake Erie Ice Boom and various associated marine construction projects.

The tugs will be specially reinforced for operations in seasonal ice, and employ heavy stems for light ice breaking and shell reinforcement along the ice belt. The design of the conventional drive tugs includes elevated pilothouses for improved visibility when maneuvering as well as a spacious work deck aft to facilitate ice boom connections.

The tugs are designed to comply with proposed Subchapter M of Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations for inspected towing vessels.

Delivery of the first tug is scheduled for September 2015.

The tug construction contract, valued at nearly $5 million, is the company’s second major order from the authority. In 2010, Great Lakes Shipyard built the agency’s new 80′ x 34′ Ice Boom Operations Barge, including the supply and installation of a new Terex 80-ton pedestal mounted lattice boom crane.

As in the case of the barge, the naval architecture and marine engineering firm of Bristol Harbor Group, Inc., Bristol, RI, (BHGI) was contracted by NYPA to develop the contract design documents for the vessels and provide consultation during both the bid and construction phases.

BHGI assisted NYPA during the bid process, and will be acting as NYPA’s on-site representative during the fabrication process, performing quality assurance and certification functions.

NYPA is the largest state power organization in the U.S., controlling 16 power generation plants, including fossil-fueled and hydro-electric generating facilities. Among those facilities are the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant and the Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant. These plants utilize water diverted from the upper Niagara River to produce electrical power for NYPA customers.

In a joint effort with the Ontario Power Generation utility, NYPA is responsible for installation and removal of an 8,800-foot-long floating ice boom designed to accelerate the formation of the natural ice arch that forms most winters near the head of the Niagara River and also stabilize the arch once it has formed.

The ice boom reduces the severity and duration of ice runs into the Niagara River, thereby lessening the probability of large scale ice blocking in the river. Such blockages could lead to both hydropower generation reductions and shoreline property flooding. In addition, it reduces the probability of ice damage to docks and other shore structures. Once the ice arch is formed, the ice boom bears the pressure of upstream ice. Seasonal storms may overcome the stability of the arch and force large masses of ice against the boom. The boom was designed to then submerge and allow the ice to override it until the pressure is relieved. After storm conditions subside, the boom resurfaces and again restrains the ice.

Throughout the winter season, the ice boom facilitates stabilization of the broken ice cover during the refreezing process. In the spring, it minimizes the severity of ice runs by reducing the quantity of loose ice floes which enter the river.

Great Lakes Shipyard is an affiliate of the Great Lakes Towing Company.