Halter Delivery To Tidewater Completes Eighty-Six Vessel Fleet Expansion Program

Tidewater Marine Service, Inc. of New Orleans, La., has accepted delivery of the Sellers Tide, a new towing-supply vessel built by Halter Marine Services, Inc. at their Lockport, La., shipyard.

The 194-foot by 40-foot by 17-foot offshore service vessel is powered by two EMD diesel engines rated at 5,750 continuous horsepower.

Named in honor of Ronald G. Sellers, a long-time employee of Tidewater, the vessel is equipped with bow thruster, built-in "P" tanks for carrying bulk cargoes, and a Smatco double-drum winch providing 300,000 pounds of single line pull.

The Sellers Tide is the last of 13 U.S.-flag vessels, two 180-foot towing-supply vessels, three oceangoing tugs, six 194-foot towingsupply vessels and two 218-foot towingsupply vessels, which were constructed and delivered during this current fiscal year ending March 31, 1977 at a cost of approximately $41.7 million. This completes a fleet expansion program extending over a period of 42 months, during which Tidewater has added 86 vessels by new construction and acquisition at a cost exceeding $130,000,000.

Plans are now being finalized for additional marine capital expansion.

Tidewater is the world's largest owner and operator of offshore marine support service vessels. Its fleet of approximately 385 vessels operates in all major offshore oil and gas areas of the world.

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.