Page 46: of Marine News Magazine (April 2019)

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ATB REVIEW

On the likelihood of the iconic ATB getting much larger: “If you go any larger, the economics favor a ship, which is where I do see

Bouchard going in the future.” – Bouchard Transportation Co.

President and CEO, Morton S. Bouchard III now has as many ATBs under U.S. ? ag as almost any other barge. Bouchard explains, “By using the same Intercon operator, and exclusively employs the Intercon system. system on the various size ATBs in our ? eet; we have the

Today, Bouchard boasts 22 ATB Tugs, servicing 20 ATB ? exibility to change tugs in the event of unplanned ship-

Barges. Bouchard continues to build and further improve yard maintenance or other issues that may arise. However, its ? eet, and the ATB unit M/V Evening Breeze & B. No. we dry dock the ATBs together (both the tugs and barges) 252 were both only recently delivered. for planned/routine maintenance.”

The Evening Breeze, built by VT Halter Marine, is no- To that end, Bouchard, since its early entry into the table in that it is the ? rst tug in Bouchard’s ? eet equipped ATB markets, always uses the same connection system. with tier 4 engines. Looking ahead, the ATB Tug Evening “Absolutely, Bouchard does,” said Bouchard, adding, “We

Stroll is currently under construction at VT Halter Marine. always use Intercon; why change something that works

And, while all Bouchard tonnage is U.S. ? ag and Jones Act and is the best? It is more expensive than other systems to compliant, the ? rm’s vessels are all ocean load lined, and both build and operate, but it is the most reliable and the are able to trade in any region. But, says Bouchard’s CEO, safest – which is the most important.” the ? rm’s primary areas of operation include the North

East and Gulf Coast of the United States.

BOUCHARD’S ATB ‘BUSINESS MODEL’

Importantly, 85% of the Bouchard ? eet is “connection”

The ATB ‘business model’ is built – in part – on the econ- agnostic; meaning the tug can connect / couple to any omies of reduced manning, increased coastwise ? exibility,

Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. ATB Fleet Details …

Barge Tug Barge Tug

B. No. 270 Kim M. Bouchard B. No. 245 Danielle M. Bouchard

B. No. 272 Donna J. Bouchard B. No. 250 Evening Star

B. No. 280 Ellen S. Bouchard B. No. 252 Evening Breeze

B. No. 282 Denise A. Bouchard B. No. 265 Marion C. Bouchard

B. No. 285 Robert J. Bouchard B. No. 205 Linda Lee Bouchard

B. No. 295 Bouchard Girls B. No. 210 Morton S. Bouchard Jr.

B. No. 215 Brendan J. Bouchard B. No. 220 Frederick E. Bouchard

B. No. 225 Jane A. Bouchard B. No. 230 Ralph E. Bouchard

B. No. 242 Morton S. Bouchard IV B. No. 235 J. George Betz

B. No. 240 Barbara E. Bouchard *** ***

Tug Buster Bouchard: Intercon equipped; not currently married to any Bouchard Barge.

Tug Capt. Fred: equipped w/Intercon but not currently married to any Bouchard Barge.

Tug Evening Stroll: under construction at VT Halter Marine, &will be equipped w/Intercon. (*) Bouchard Transportation co.

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MN