Bollinger Delivers ATB Unit

Published Nov 30, 2007 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

LOCKPORT, La., Bollinger Gretna, LLC, Harvey, La., and Bollinger Algiers, L.L.C, two Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., facilities, have completed the new construction of the second of two 80,000 barrel (BBL) OPA’90 compliant tank barges, as well as the retrofit and conversion of a Bouchard tug, respectfully, to Bouchard Coastwise Management Corp., Melville, N.Y.

The 80,000 BBL tank barge, B. No. 282, is a manned ocean, clean oil barge measuring 399-feet long, with a 74-foot beam and a depth of 28-feet. The barge is built to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA’90), with twelve (12) cargo compartments with three separate pumping systems.

While the B. No. 282 was in the final stages of construction, Bollinger Algiers retrofitted the ELLEN S. BOUCHARD with the Intercon C coupler system, generator upgrades, regulatory recertification and received life extensions. The tug measures 112-feet long, with a 35-foot beam and a depth of 17-feet.

Morton S. Bouchard III, president and chief executive officer of Bouchard Affiliates, said “Our fleet modernization continues on schedule with the delivery of the B. No 282 from Bollinger. Our next deliveries will be the 35,000 BBL B. No. 233 and the 60,000 BBL B. No. 260, from Bollinger Marine Fabricators and Bollinger Gretna."

Founded in 1918, Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., and Bouchard Coastwise Management Co. (www.bouchardtransport.com) is a total service oil barging company. The Bouchard fleet includes 28 barges ranging from 25,000 BBL to 252,000 BBL and 19 tugs with power ratings from 3,000 to 10,000 horsepower. They serve the U. S. East, Gulf and West Coasts, the Great Lakes, and the Caribbean.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. (www.bollingershipyards.com) is a leading designer and builder of ocean-going double hull barges, offshore oil field support vessels, tug boats, rigs, liftboats, inland waterways push boats and barges, fast military patrol boats and other steel and aluminum products from its three new construction shipyards. Bollinger has 13 shipyards and all are strategically located between New Orleans and Houston with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Bollinger is the largest vessel repair company in the Gulf of Mexico region with a total of 40 dry-docks in Louisiana and Texas.

**Photo: Bollinger delivers the ATB unit, B. No. 282 and tug ELLEN S. BOUCHARD, the second of two 80,000 BBL OPA’90 tank barges and retrofitted tug to Bouchard.