Bisso Towboat takes delivery of newbuild ship-assist tug

MARCH 24, 2015 — Bisso Towboat Co., Inc., Luling, LA, has taken delivery of its newest ship-assist tug, the 4,480 HP ASD tractor tug Becky S.

Constructed at the Main Iron Works shipyard, Houma, LA, the 100′ x 38′ x 13.5′ Becky S. is powered by two Caterpillar 3515T3MPl (Tier 3 compliant) main engines, delivering 2,240 HP each at 1,600 rpm and driving two Rolls Royce US20SFP Z-drives. The Z-drives feature 90.6″ diameter by 82.4″ pitch stainless steel propellers set in stainless steel nozzles and the tug’s estimated bollard pull is 60 tons.

Electrical service is provided by two 99 kW Marathon generators powered by two John Deere 4D45AFM8S (Tier 3 compliant) engines.

The tug is equipped with a Jonrie Series 230 Hydraulic Bow Winch carrying 500′ of 8″ circumference Saturn 12 line (see earlier story).

Other features include USCG-approved engine room monitoring and fire/smoke alarm systems, Simrad navigation/electronics, soundproof insulation throughout engine room and crew quarters, stainless steel bitts and bow staple and four bunk rooms with seven berths.

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 Becky 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 Becky S. is the fifth ASD tractor tug built for Bisso by Main Iron Works and the ninth new tug constructed for Bisso by Main Iron Works in the past 23 years. The addition of the Becky S. brings the total number of tugs in the Bisso fleet to twelve and continues Bisso leadership in the Mississippi River ship-assist trade with the largest fleet of ASD tractor tugs on the Mississippi.