Page 44: of Marine News Magazine (March 2013)

Responding to new oil and gas industry opportunities, Foss Maritime Company is building the Þ rst three tugs in an innovative Arctic Class of tugs, a ß eet expansion that broadens its capacity to take on large projects in extreme environments. Construction on the Þ rst tug starts in early 2013 at the FossÕ Rainier, Oregon shipyard, which will be expanded by an additional 10,000 square feet, and will re- quire additional staff, in part to accommodate this project. The delivery date for the Þ rst hull is December of 2014, with the second to follow in December of 2015, and the third, a year later in December of 2016. Glosten Associates is FossÕ naval architecture partner on the project. Gary Faber, FossÕ President and Chief Operating OfÞ -cer, said in a prepared statement, ÒThese vessels will be built using the latest advances in technology and equip- ment. We want to increase efÞ ciency, improve safety and performance and reduce environmental impact. These concerns are paramount to our customers, our stakehold- ers and our crews involved in offshore drilling and other project work in extreme environments.Ó SpeciÞ cally, the new tugs will meet American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) A1 requirements, including standards for hulls, machinery, towing, anchors and cable, ABS Ice Class requirements, SOLAS requirements for on-board rescue boat and davit; and Ð in keeping with the FOSS emphasis on protecting the environment Ð the Green Pass- port, which requires an inventory of shipboard hazardous materials that make decommissioning of vessels far safer. The new tugs are designed to withstand the rigors of Arctic operations and will be positioned to compete for opportunities in the oil and gas industry. Foss has Þ ve as- sets committed to an Arctic offshore exploration project in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, and the newbuild project will position the Washington-based operators to provide services and support with tugs, landing craft, crew boats and barges. The lack of infrastructure in the rapidly thaw- ing Arctic regions increases the need for suitable, robust tonnage for that purpose. And, Faber said that additional ABS-classed tugs and support vessels are already under consideration.Foss Maritime Expanding Foss Maritime Expanding Ocean Tug Fleet Ocean Tug Fleet Tug and barge operator is building three new Arctic Class deep-sea tugs at Northwest shipyard By Joseph Keefe Vessel Type Twin Screw Ocean tug Main Engines 2 x Caterpillar C280-8Breadth 41 ft Hull, 44 ft including fendersCrew Up to 8 / Berths 10-11 Rated Power 2 x 3,634 HPShark Jaws Smith Berger Service SOLAS Reduction Gear Reintjes Propeller 126? diameter Class ABS / A1 / AMS / A1 Towing Vsl, Ice Class Builder Foss Maritime Company, Rainier Oregon Aux.Engines 2 x Cat C9 / 1 x Caterpillar C4.4Nozzles & Rudders NauticanLength 130 ftDepth 20 ftTonnage (Est.) GRT: <300 Tow Pin Table Smith Berger Tow Winch Markey Machinery Max Draft TBDBow Winch Markey Machinery Arctic Class Ocean Tug ? At a Glance 44 MNMarch 2013 MN March2013 Layout 32-49.indd 44MN March2013 Layout 32-49.indd 443/4/2013 2:12:35 PM3/4/2013 2:12:35 PM