Bay-Houston Towing Announces $10.6-Million Expansion Program

A $10.6-million expansion program by Bay-Houston Towing Company was announced by W.D.

Haden II, chairman of the board, as he disclosed the signing of contracts for four new tugs and option on an additional two vessels.

One tug, the 4,200-hp Captain W.D. Haden, is designed to keep Bay-Houston in the forefront of the harbor/off shore towing industry, particularly for the petroleum industry, Mr. Haden said.

The 106-foot by 34-foot by 16- foot tug is the first diesel electric vessel of its type to be built in the Gulf. It will be equipped with three GM 16-149 TI generator sets, combined to give a total output of 4,200 hp/3,000 kilowatts.

The vessel will have 100,000- pound forward bollard pull and 75,000-pound pull astern. Towing versatility will be assured by the Captain W.D.'s double-drum towing winch.

Named after Capt. W.D. Haden, founder of Bay-Houston Towing Company, the powerful tug was designed and will be built by Halter Marine Services of New Orleans, La.

The other three tugs of 95-foot overall length and designed for harbor work will carry the family names of Barbara H. Neuhaus, Laura Haden, and Mark K. The company has an option to build an additional two of the 95-foot tugs. Mr. Haden said the 2,850-hp tugs were designed by Norman DeJong of Jacksonville, Fla., and are being built by Diamond Manufacturing Co. of Savannah, Ga.

All tugs have EPA approval and are classified by the American Bureau of Shipping. First delivery will commence in November 1978, with the final contracted vessel to be completed by January 1980, Mr. Haden said.

Full electronic gear, radar, loran, SSB and VHF-FM radios, and Fathometer will give the tugs the finest navigational and communication capabilities.

The new vessels are part of an ongoing expansion and modernization program that has included the recent commissioning of two harbor tugs, the C.R. Haden and the Philip K, and the repowering and updating of two other tugs at a cost of an additional $5.49 million, Mr. Haden reported.

Bay-Houston Towing Company provides harbor and coastwise towing in the ports of Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Freeport and Texas City, Texas.

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