Page 23: of Marine News Magazine (June 2011)

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www.marinelink.com MN 23

Starting with a single small wooden tug in the 1930s, Sause Bros. has grown its fleet to 60 tugs and barges.

Sause Bros. barges petroleum, lum- ber, plywood, paper and chemicals between many Pacific Ocean ports in the United States, Central and South

America, the South Pacific and even

Russia.

Typical one-way trips can range from 1,200 to 2,400 nm, and some are much longer. In addition, the company’s vessels are hired for ocean- towing and ship-assist jobs. One key to the company’s continued success has been a long-term fleet moderniza- tion program which included a deci- sion to replace its existing medium- speed marine diesel engines with high-speed marine diesels from

MTU.

Today, a little over one-third of the tugs and barges in the Sause Bros. fleet are powered by MTU Series 4000 and Series 2000 Ironmen marine diesel engines. The tugs fea- ture MTU Series 4000 engines with 12V and 16V cylinder configura- tions, as well as 12V Series 2000 and

Series 60 engines. The most powerful of these engines, the 12V and 16V

Series 4000 units, are installed in the company’s long-distance ocean-tow- ing tugs, while Series 2000 and Series 60 engines power tugs that operate in harbors. All of the company’s MTU equipped barges are powered by

Series 60 engines.

Because of the modernization pro- gram, Sause Bros. has been able to achieve a 30 to 47% reduction in fuel consumption. The company esti- mates that up to 15% of the savings can be attributed directly to the new fuel-efficient MTU engines. MTU engines also offer lower lube-oil con- sumption and lower exhaust emis- sions. Series 4000, 2000 and 60 engines all meet EPA Tier II emis- sions standards, a requirement for boats operating in California waters.

So far in its modernization program,

Sause Bros. has equipped more than 10 tugs with MTU engines.

MTU for Sause Bros. Fleet Modernization

Photo: MTU

New Orleans (504) 780-8100 • Fax (504) 780-8200

Norfolk (757) 545-0100 • Fax (757) 545-8004

Houston (281) 452-5887 • Fax (281) 452-9682 www.mcdonoughmarine.com

LARGEST RENTAL FLEET OF SPUD,

DECK AND MATERIAL BARGES

BARGES 60’ TO 400’ LENGTH • 16 Fleeting locations inland rivers, Gulf, East and West Coast • Inland and Ocean towing services