Smith Berger Tow Pins Are Leading the Way

Smith Berger Marine, Inc. has been selected by Edison Chouest Offshore to design and manufacture the Tow Pin Stern Roller units required on their nine new vessels (five escort tugs and four docking tugs). Edison Chouest is building the new state-of-the-art tugs in order to execute their 10-year Ship Escort-Response Vessel System (SERVS) contract with the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. The tugs will provide tanker escort and spill response services in Prince William Sound.

The tow pin unit has the capacity to sustain 250 tons of line tension and features three individually raised and lowered towing pins, one hold down hook and a fourteen inch diameter stern roller. The tow pins have a dedicated 5 HP electro-hydraulic power unit and are operated by a remote control panel located in the wheelhouse.  

Smith Berger was also chosen to furnish the shark jaws and towing pins for the four new Damen Stan 3711 tugs being built at Conrad Industries for Young Brothers Limited. 

The four shipsets of equipment are nearly identical to the Smith Berger gear installed on the latest Foss Maritime tugs, the Michele Foss, Denise Foss and Nicole Foss.

Smith Berger has also kept busy building tow pin units for the two McAllister Towing tugs at Horizon Shipbuilding, the Harley Marine tug Earl W. Redd at Diversified Marine and a 15” diameter Stainless Steel Staple Chock for the Signet Maritime tug Mischief.

With over 110 years of manufacturing in the Pacific Northwest, Smith Berger’s principle activities include the design and manufacture of all types of mooring and towing equipment as well as providing salmon butchering machinery for the salmon canning industry.