Kirby takes delivery of ATB tug from Nichols Brothers

M/V Tina Pyne

APRIL 8, 2016 — Kirby Offshore Marine (KOM), a wholly owned subsidiary of Houston-headquartered Kirby Corp,, recently accepted the M/V Tina Pyne, the second of two 136′ x 44′ x 23′ 10,000 hp Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) tugboat units built at the Freeland, Whidbey Island,WA, shipyard of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB).

M/V Tina Pyne and her sistership, the M/V Nancy Peterkin delivered to Kirby Offshore in November 2015, were designed by Guarino & Cox of Covington, LA. Both vessels are coupled to 185,000 barrel oil product barges built by Gunderson Marine of Portland, OR.

The vessels are designed to handle barges in full-ocean service. Since delivery the M/V Nancy Peterkin has been operating on US west coast routes.

The coupling systems used on these ATB units are Intercon Series 50, manufactured by the Intercontinental Engineering-Manufacturing Corporation of Kansas City, MO. The tugs’ hull form, combined with that of the barge, provide good seakeeping characteristics along with excellent efficiency.

Both the M/V Nancy Peterkin and M/V Tina Pyne are ABS classed vessels, SOLAS certified with UWILD, ACCU and CPS notation. They are outfitted with Tier 3 engines and generators meeting the latest EPA regulations at the time of construction. The vessels demonstrate impressive performance, registering 165 tons in bollard pull tests and having a free running speed of 16 knots.

Nichols Brothers completed the two vessels with a team of subcontractors that included BMT Nigel Gee, Nautican, Fusion Marine and Marine Interior Systems.

Following on from the ATB tugs, Nichols Brothers and Kirby Offshore Marine have signed an agreement for the construction of a pair of 120′ x 35′ x 19′-3″ twin screw towing tugboats scheduled for delivery in May 2017 and November 2017.