Centerline Logistics has renewed strength and leadership vision after name change, while Bisso and Seabulk boost their fleets
Harley Marine Services has changed its name to reflect the growing trend in vessel operators becoming logistics providers, following a change in ownership.
It has become Centerline Logistics Corp to deliver vessel-based transportation and ship assistance services to energy companies and ports in North America.
Centerline Logistics president and chief executive Matt Godden said the company has come through a major reorganisation since July 2019. “Over the last year the company has made significant progress in restructuring its operations. And this branding change signals our renewed strength and vision to remain a leader in the marine transportation business,” he added.
Centerline Logistics transports and stores petroleum products and other cargoes, assists and escorts ships and provides rescue towage. Mr Godden said the company has improved its operational and financial stability.
Centerline’s senior vice president of US east coast and Gulf coast operations Kelly Moore explained where the name change came from. “The centre line of a marine vessel is a significant point of balance and one that represents strength for the broader hull of the vessel,” she said. “The company looked to select a name that would always remind it of its maritime history and experience.”
Centerline’s senior vice president of US west coast operations Doug Houghton said the company was “well positioned for the next chapter of the company’s history and we are moving forward”.
This month, Centerline welcomed tug Barbara Jean Mulholland to its fleet operating in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in California.
Centerline operations
Another US-headquartered owner, EN Bisso & Son is increasing its fleet with newbuildings from Eastern Shipbuilding Group. The latest of these, A Thomas Higgins, was launched at Eastern’s Allanton facility in the US on 31 January 2020.
This is a sister vessel to Z-drive harbour tug CD White that was delivered to Bisso Offshore in early January 2020. Both are 24.3-m tugs built to a Robert Allan RApport 2400 design with Caterpillar-supplied main engines that comply with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 4 and IMO Tier III emissions requirements.
These tugs are customised by the designer, the builder and owner to provide specific operational features including more than 65 tonnes of bollard pull, enhanced manoeuvrability and escort performance and better fuel economy, crew comfort and safety.
Seacor Holdings subsidiary Seabulk Towing Inc is expanding its US fleet with new a pair of tug newbuildings under construction at Alabama shipbuilder Master Boat Builders.
These will be advanced Rotortug (ART) design with triangular propulsion systems supplied by Schottel. These tugs are scheduled for delivery in H2 2021 and H1 2022 to operate alongside Seabulk Towing’s existing harbour fleet in the Gulf of Mexico and the US east coast.
Each will have three Schottel rudderpropellers type SRP 430 FP with fixed pitch, 2.4-m propellers and driven by a 1,771-kW diesel engine, a free running speed of 14.5 knots and around 80 tonnes of bollard pull. This should be sufficient for manoeuvring ultra-large container ships in these ports.
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