Trinity Offshore christens two RAstar 3100 escort tugs at Gulfport shipyard

Trinity Offshore, LLC and Signet Maritime Corporation recently christened the escort tugs M/V SIGNET STARS & STRIPES and M/V SIGNET CONSTELLATION  in a double ceremony at Trinity’s Gulfport, Miss. shipyard.

Mrs. Gayle L. Wicker, wife of U.S. Senatot Roger F. Wicker (R. Miss), christened the M/V SIGNET STARS & STRIPES. Immediately following, Mrs. Tara E. Hauhe, wife of Mr. William E. Hauhe, General Manager, Angola LNG Supply Services LLC, Houston, Texas, christened M/V SIGNET CONSTELLATION.

“The skies over Mississippi will be brighter when Signet Maritime Corporation puts its two new escort tugs to work next month,” said Senator Wicker, in  speech during christenings.

Signet Maritime’s President and Owner, Mr. J. Barry Snyder, noted the importance these tugs bring to Mississippi Shipbuilding and Gulf of Mexico LNG services. The technologically advanced tugs are specifically designed and engineered to offer superior ship-handling, escort, and sea-keeping performance and incorporate cutting edge design, leading the way in marine vessel service provided to LNG carriers.

The M/V SIGNET CONSTELLATION, Trinity Hull TO-22, was launched on September 7, 2011 while last week’s  christening of M/V SIGNET STARS & STRIPES, Trinity Hull TO-23, marked her official launch.

Both tugs are 100′ (30.48 m) RAstar 3100 Class Terminal Support/Escort Tugs, built for Signet Maritime Corporation’s U.S. Gulf of Mexico operations and will provide marine services to Angola LNG Supply Services (ALSS) in the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Robert Allan Ltd. designed ASD tugs are built to American Bureau of Shipping Maltese Cross A1 Towing & Escort Service, Fire Fighting Class 1 (Fi-Fi 1) and Maltese Cross AMS standards. The vessels will be operated under Signet Maritime’s ABS-certified International Safety Management (ISM) and ISO 9001-2008 Quality Management Systems. In addition, these vessels are the first EPA Tier 3, EU Stage IIIA, and IMO Marine Tier III vessels to be built and operated in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

Primary Characteristics

Length O.A. 100′-0″ (30.48m)

Length (Hull) 92′-1″ (28.07m)

Beam (Extreme) 40′-0″ (12.19m)

Hull depth Draft  – Maximum over Drives 17′-7″ (5.36m) 17′-2″ (5.23m)

Fuel Capacity 64,565 US gallons

Fresh Water Capacity 4,461 US gallons

Power Two (2) CAT C175-16, rated 3,417 each (2550kW) at 1800 RPM, EPA Tier 3

Complement 8

Generators  -  Diesel Three (3) John Deere, Model 6068TFM76, 99 kW (each), 60 Hz, 480V

Z-Drives Two (2) Rolls-Royce Model US255

Controllable Pitch Propellers Two (2) 110.2″ Diameter, Four Blade NIBRAL in Kort Nozzles

Lightship Weight 558.83 Metric Tons

Bollard Pull, Ahead 80+ Metric Tons

Bollard Pull, Stern 75+ Metric Tons

Free Running Speed, Ahead 12.5 knots (minimum)

Classification ABS Maltese Cross A1, Escort, Maltese Cross AMS, Fi-Fi 1

Delivery November 2011

October 16, 2011