Great Lakes shipyard to build tug for Guatamalan customer

AUGUST 27, 2015 —Great Lakes Shipyard, Cleveland, OH, has signed a construction contract to build one its Handy Size Class, 3,400 HP twin-screw tugboats for harbor towing operations in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala.

Puerto Quetzal, on Guatemala’s Pacific coast, is a growing commercial cargo, container, and cruise port and the buyer for the tug is a pension benefits plan for the port’s employees, Regimen de Pensiones y Jubilaciones del Personal de la Empresa Portuaria. To ensure future retirement benefits, it operates a commercial tugboat service in the port under a port authority franchise.

Great Lakes Group’s Handy Size Class tug was designed by Crowley Maritime subsidiary Jensen Naval Architects & Marine Engineers, Seattle, WA.

Being built for delivery next year, the new tug will be 74 ft long with a beam of 50 ft and iss specifically designed for harbor work and coastal towing. It is to be built to ABS standards and its Cummins QSK-50 main diesel propulsion engines, each rated at 1,700 BHP@ 1600 rpm, will meet US EPA Tier III emission regulations.

The contract for the tug was signed at a ceremony held in the U.S. Embassy, Guatemala City, and hosted by the Embassy’s Senior Trade Specialist, Antonio Prieto of the International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.  Prieto was instrumental in facilitating the sale.

Nicole DeSilvis, the Embassy’s Senior Commercial Officer in her remarks, on behalf of the U.S. Government and U.S. Ambassador Todd Robinson, welcomed the Pension Plan’s officers represented by Eduardo De Jesus Lemus, the Regimen’s Presidente Junta Administradora who signed the Contract, and Juan Rodolfo Archila, the Regimen’s Administrador General and the Board of Directors.Ms. DeSilvis acknowledged their “work ethic” and the “clear and transparent manner” of the negotiations and the contract process.  She pledged to continue to collaborate and assist in the Pension Plan’s new endeavors.

At the Ceremony, Carlos Antonio Lainfiesta, Chairman of the Board of Puerto Quetzal was presented with a plaque from the Regimen in recognition of his efforts in support of the Regimen’s acquisition of the new tugboat.

The Great Lakes Towing Company’s Chairman, Ronald C. Rasmus, and Gregg A. Thauvette, Vice President, Operations and Marketing, represented Great Lakes Shipyard.  Mr. Rasmus signed the Contract on behalf of the Shipyard.