Bisso expands fleet with green escort tugs

This New Orleans, Louisiana-headquartered tug operator has taken delivery of a second 3,800 kW-powered tug from Eastern Shipbuilding Group.

Thomas Higgins is the second tug built with propulsion compliant to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Tier 4 requirements delivered to Bisso Offshore. The first, CD White, was delivered in January this year and is currently working in New Orleans.

Both were built at Eastern Shipbuilding’s Allanton facility to a Robert Allan design, US Coast Guard’s Sub-M certificate of inspection and with bollard pull testing witnessed by ABS.

These Z-drive ship-handling tugs are constructed to RApport 2400 design with an overall length of 24.3 m, 11.6 m moulded beam, and 4 m hull depth. They were customised by the builder and owner to provide operational features including a high bollard pull forward and aft, enhanced manoeuvrability and escort performance, better fuel economy and crew comfort.

These tugs were also modified to comply with safety under the new USCG Sub-M requirements and reduced emissions meeting the new EPA Tier 4 emissions regulations, including abatement of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

They each have two Caterpillar 3512E main diesel engines, compliant with EPA Tier 4 and IMO Tier III driving two Kongsberg US205 P20 Z-drives.

In their enginerooms are two John Deere 4045AFM85 auxiliary diesel generator sets, each rated at 99 kW at 1,800 rpm and complying with Tier 3 EPA requirements.

Bisso Offshore is a division of EN Bisso & Son, which has been a long-term customer of Eastern Shipbuilding. This owner has taken delivery of four previous modern Z-drive ship-assist tugs from this builder, starting in 2007: Josephine Anne, Beverly B, Elizabeth B and Archie T Higgins.

Green propulsion technology will be discussed in depth during Riviera’s Tug Technology Webinar Week, starting 1 September 2020. Use this link for more details and to register