Marcon brokers sale of Crowley tug

Written by Nick Blenkey

marcon tugMAY 17, 2012: Crowley Maritime Corporation of Seattle has sold the twin screw “Seneca” Class tug “Sioux” to Island Tug & Barge, also of Seattle.

According to Marcon International of Coupeville, Wash., although the primary function that the two model-bow tugs in this class were built for was the towing of barges between Puget Sound and the Prudhoe Bay oil fields in Alaska, they combine the shallow draft and maneuverability of river towboats, with the stability and endurance of ocean-going vessels. They have seen service from the Sacramento River in California to the Arctic Ocean and as far east as Hawaii where the “Sioux” rescued one of two barges which broke loose from another tug in a severe storm which swept the Pacific causing severe damage and loss to numerous vessels.

The dimensions of these highly functional, dual-purpose vessels are 110’ / 106’ x 34’ x 10.5’ depth with a 10.5’ light and 13’ laden draft. “Sioux” is powered by a pair of EMD 8-645E5 diesels developing a total of 2,900BHP at 900 RPM driving twin 87” x 86” five blade stainless steel propellers in fixed kort nozzles. Bollard pull is estimated at abt. 30 tons ahead. Fuel capacity is about 59,600 gallons, which gives the tug a decent towing range, and she has crew accommodations for about 6-8 persons in five cabins. “Sioux” was designed by Larry Glosten at Glosten & Associates and built in 1970 by J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding in Tacoma, WA as Hull No. 183 to ABS +A1 Towing Class standards. In 1973, “Sioux” and “Seneca” returned to Tacoma for modifications to fit them for river barge handling. Modifications included installation of aluminum pilothouses raising the height of eye to 42’ above the waterline. The conventional lower pilothouses were retained for saltwater towing. She was also fitted with push knees forward which have since been removed and replaced with heavy bow fendering. Towing gear consists of a single drum hydraulic Swann winch with 2,400’ x 1.25” wire capacity, hydraulic tow pins, deck fairleads port and starboard and a vertical capstan aft.
]
“Sioux”, to be renamed “Island Venture”, is presently being painted to new owner’s aqua and white colors before entering local service.

Crowley has since built several new shallow draft replacement tugs for Alaska trade.

Marcon International, Inc acted as sole broker and has handled over a hundred sales and purchases for both parties over the years.

Categories: Coastal Tags:

Leave a Reply