ITC Completes 6,237-Mile Dry Tow To Argentina With Six Oil Barges And Two River Towboats

I n t e r n a t i o n a l Transport Contractors Holland B.V. and its subsidiary in Houston, Texas, obtained a contract from the Interfinancial C o r p o r a t i o n , Houston, for the towage of two pushboats and six oil barges from New Orleans, La., to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Contract negotiations for this transport were conducted by International Transport Contractors (USA) Inc. of Houston, a newly formed subsidiary of I.T.C. Holland B.V., where E.A. Punch has been appointed vice president.

The cargo of two pushboats (108 feet by 30 feet and 86 feet by 31 feet) were transported by local tugs from Lockport, La., and the six oil barges (195 feet by 52Vo feet by 11 feet) from Houma, La., to New Orleans. The loading took place in the Michoud Canal adjacent to the New Orleans NASA facility. The tugs and barges, weighing 2,670 tons, were loaded on I.T.C.'s submerged barge Seacamel-10.

The Seacamel-10 dimensions are 393 feet by 131 feet. The barge is capable of carrying loads of up to 19,500 tons on the 4,500 square meters of deck space.

After the cargo was loaded, the barge was then refloated and the cargo secured ready f o r the 6,237- mile voyage to Buenos Aires. With 10,000 ihp at her command, the I.T.C. tug Sinni towed the Seacamel- 10 to Argentina. Transit time was 43 days. After delivery, the tugs and barges purchased by the Interfinancial Corporation for Navipar, S.A. were employed to t r a n s p o r t crude from Buenos Aires to a refinery in Asuncion, Paraguay.

The activities of International Transport C o n t r a c t o r s Holland B.V., Haarlem, Holland, who specialize in heavy ocean transports using submersible barges, and in towage and salvage operations, are rapidly increasing. The I.T.C.

fleet now has seven 15,000-ihp oceangoing tugs, three 9,000 to 10,000-ihp ocean tugs, and nine submersible barges of 11,500 to 20,000 tons. Under the guidance of Messrs. Frits Jonkman and L.P.M. Burghowt, managing directors (Holland), I.T.C. has experienced unprecedented growth and development in this specialized area of ocean transportation.

In addition to Houston, I.T.C. has also opened offices in Singapore.

The Interfinancial Corporation (Houston), who c o n t r a c t e d the sea tow, specializes in the financing of international projects related to the petroleum industry.

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