Page 36: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2004)

Tanker Technology

Company Focus: Staying Connected with INTERCON

The Intercon Coupler System is designed to provide a safe and efficient solution to the problems of connecting tugs and barges in ocean and coastwise pushing operations. Principal benefits include the ability to push in the widest range of sea states; the complete elimi- nation of hull contact; fail-safe mechanical connection with redundant controls, and elimination of the expense and hazards of towing lines and related equipment.

In simplest form, the patented

Intercon System provides a single degree of freedom allowing the tug to pitch about a transverse connection between the tug and barge. All other motions are restrained so that tug motions match barge motions in roll and heave.

The connection is mechanical — accomplished with two independently mounted ram assemblies, gear driven, and configured for tug installation. The rams stroke transversely, engaging the vertical ladder structures incorporated

INTERCON COUPLER .

LCM60X UCCUS FCR TOW TUG _ - nemir STSESS ens: ttu uxuss - CCUWT MA*EIR FACTUM KTMB MI T&TB - ajsrou OESOE) TO UAKH HIL UCS a® smjcrjs into both walls of the stern notch. The resulting tug-barge connection is rigid, mechanically locked, and fail-safe.

Recent Success

The Intercon reference list is long and distinguished, including the aforemen- tioned Crowley subsidiary installations from Bay Shipbuilding. In addition.

Island Tug & Barge Ltd. of Vancouver,

BC recently celebrated the commis- sioning of its barge, Island Trader, in

Vancouver. The barge was built in

China and returned to Vancouver by tug. Island Monarch. The 3,000-hp tug was retrofitted with an Intercon C-

Series Coupler and the barge notch was fitted with Intercon ladder assemblies.

The C-Series Coupler is the latest addi- tion to our product line of articulated tug-barge couplers and is sized for ATBs in the 60,000 to 100,000 BBL range. In addition, Penn Maritime of Staten

Island, NY, ordered its fifth ATB to be outfitted with an Intercon 50-in. Coupler

System.

The 123-ft., 6,000-hp tug and 140,000

BBL barge will be built by Bay

Shipbuilding of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

For free information from Intercon

Circle 11 on Reader Service Card

Max your savings with Climax on-site machine tools!

Precise, powerful, portable - Climax machine tools save you money by letting you construct and repair in-place, with easy setup ... fast operation... and outstanding results.

You can RENT most Climax tools! The terms are great.

Transit time is free. And we get it to you fast.

Call 800-333-8311 (503-538-2185) for expert assistance.

We have a time- and money-saving solution - including tools, site analysis, consultation and training - for virtually any machining reguirement.

Buy or rent these tools with confidence built on 1000's of satisfied customers.

Rapid, innovative on-site machining ^ solutions for stern tube boring, drive shaft coupling, ship conversion projects, valve & flange repair.

CLIMAX®

Portable Machine Tools, Inc.

We fix productivity problems.

MRENS1203

See us online at www.cpmt.com

Phone 800-333-8311 (503-538-2185) Fax 503-538-7600

Distributors worldwide in 23 countries "Now with leak detection" mum

Smart Radar Level

Sensor with Generic

RS485 Output

The first flat array antenna for liquid tank gauging.

This software driven array allows for each sensor to remotely configure itself for the type of product as well as the structural characteristics within each tank. It is completely self-diagnostic and is factory calibrated using a laser interferometer to ,1mm. It is designed for the harshest environments and can be provided in a high temperature version to 385°F. It is intrinsically safe with Class 1, Div. 1,

Group D & C approvals. As a smart sensor, all processing calculations and software are resident in the device itself, only a high level generic data output, i.e., RS485 (or others on request) is sent to the cargo control area.

Options: • Multiple alarm set-points • Temperature • PV Pressure • I.G. Pressure • Tank Management Software • Automated draft and trim

ELECTRONIC MARINE

SYSTEMS, INC. 800 Ferndale Place

Rahway, NJ 07065

Call today for more information! 732.382.4344 732.388.5111 fax [email protected] e-mail http://www.emsmarcon.com

Circle 217 on Reader Service Card Circle 226 on Reader Service Card

February 2004 31