Second Occidental Tug/Barge Unit Christened At Avondale Yard

Christening c e r e m o n i e s were held recently at Avondale Shipyards, Inc. for the integrated tug/ barge unit Oxy Producer (shown at right), a 41,500-dwt liquid chemical and petroleum tanker, which was built for a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation.

Mrs. Tazewell Shepard Jr., wife of Adm. Tazewell Shepard Jr., executive vice president of Occidental International Corporation, served as sponsor. Mrs. Shepard is the former Julia Ann Sparkman, daughter of Senator and Mrs. John Sparkman of Alabama.

Other principals involved in the christening ceremony included: Albert L. Bossier Jr., president of Avondale, who presided at the ceremony; Samuel Nemirow, assistant secretary of commerce for maritime affairs, who delivered the principal address; and Mrs.

Cynthia Shepard, matron of honor.

With its tug locked into the stern notch, the integrated unit has an overall length of 677 feet 4 inches, beam of 99 feet, and depth of 50 feet. Molded design draft is 36 feet, giving a displacement of 52,650 tons. Main propulsion is by two Colt/Pielstick 14PC2-5V400 diesels manufactured by the Fairbanks Morse Engine Division of Colt Industries.

Each engine has a maximum continuous rating of 9,100 bhp at 520 rpm. These diesels are capable of operating on heavy fuel oil for maximum economy. On sea trials at 85 percent mcr, the vessel achieved a speed of 15^ knots.

The Oxy Producer is designed to c a r r y superphosphoric acid (SPA) and other liquid chemicals in five stainless steel tanks, and petroleum products in 10 wing tanks. She will embark on her maiden voyage in the latter part of June, joining her sister ship, the Oxy Trader, in their first shipment of SPA to Russia. These shipments will be made under one of several contracts between Occidental and the Soviet Union.

Occidental, a natural resources company under the leadership of Dr. Armand Hammer, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, is a major producer and distributor of agricultural chemicals.

The corporation and its subsidiaries are engaged in a diversified range of activities that support the world's effort to meet the increasing demand for food and fiber. Its chemical division is one of the largest, diversified chemical producers, providing industry with raw materials, intermediate and f i n i s h e d chemical products, technology, and engineering.

Avondale Shipyards is a subsidiary of Ogden Corporation. Although principally a shipbuilder, Avondale is a diversified company with facilities that include repair yards, a foundry, a special products division, steel sales, and a facility at Bayou Black near the Gulf that builds offshore drilling rigs.

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 10, Jun 1981

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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.