Jensen Completes the Design of Three Additional Ship Assist and Escort Tugs for Moran, Bringing Jensen-Designed Fleet to Five

Jensen Maritime Consultants, a Crowley Maritime Corp. subsidiary, has completed the design of three additional tugboats for Moran Towing Corp., a New Canaan, CT, tug-and-barge operator on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts. The additional boats will bring Moran's Jensen-designed series of tugboats to five. The tugs are currently under construction at the Washburn & Doughty Shipyard of East Boothbay, Maine.

The three new boats are nearly identical in design to the two previously Jensen-designed, Z-Drive tugs, the Capt. Jimmy Moran and the Shiney V. Moran - which were built in 2008 and 2009, respectively - with the exception of upgrades to the internal elements. These upgrades will ensure that the piping and electrical systems are consistent with Moran's larger fleet of tugs and barges.

PHOTO: Jensen-built Capt. Jimmy Moran

"Moran asked us to design three more of these tugs because they were so impressed with their maneuverability and compact power," said Jensen's Johan Sperling, vice president. "We are pleased to continue our relationship with Moran and to contribute to their ship assist and escort fleet with more of these highly capable vessels."

At 86' in length and 36' in breadth, Jensen has designed this series of tugboats to provide a maneuverable and powerful fleet for ship assist and escort work on the East Coast. Equipped with a twin Schottel 1215 Z-Drive propulsion units and MTU-DD 16V4000 engines, the tugs have more than 5,000 horsepower at their disposal. A deep skeg forward is included in the design for escort work, but the skeg will remain open at the aft end to allow for better maneuverability. The skeg also provides for a more stable platform when underway, minimizing rolling due to the seaway. An escort hawser winch will also be installed forward and an H-bitt and hydraulic capstan installed for aft towing and line handling.

Additionally, large-machinery removal hatches are provided in the main deck and deck house to allow for easy removal of equipment from the engine room. Berths for six crewmembers will be installed in four comfortable staterooms.

Construction of the three new tugs began earlier this year. Delivery is scheduled for the second and third quarters of 2012.