UPDATE BIZ NOTES U.S. rig activity on the rise
Eastern inks escort tug deal FLORIDA-BASED Eastern Shipbuilding Group will build four 80 ft terminal and escort Z-drive tugs, two for Houston-based Suderman & Young Towing Co. and two for Bay-Houston Towing Co. The tugs will be based on Robert Allan Ltd.’s (RAL) Z-Tech 4000 design. Z-Tech tugs are designed primarily for operation in major ports and marine terminals, providing omnidirectional performance, and speeds and Bollard Pull astern that are as equal to that going ahead, according to RAL. The design features a flat forward sheer, and a wide heavily fendered bow, emphasizing the tugs need to work in either a push or pull mode. Upon the vessel’s delivery, G&H Towing Co., Galveston, TX, will operate the tugs. G&H will also provide onsite owners’ representation during the engineering, design and construction phases of the contracts. The tugs will be classed ABS +A1, Towing Vessel, AMS and Escort Service, ABS Loadline (SoC) Statement of Compliance.
The new escort tugs will be based on RAL’s Z-Tech 4000 design. The tugs won’t be the first Z-Techs in Suderman & Young’s fleet. Last year, it took delivery of the Zeus (pictured) based on the Z-Tech 2400 design
Each tug will be powered by two EPA Tier 3 compliant Caterpillar 3516C (B rating) diesel engines—each rated at 2,775 hp at 1,600 rev/min. The engines will drive two Schottel SRP 1215 FP nozzled Z-drives. The main generators will be two EPA Tier 3 compliant John Deere 4045AFM85 diesel engines, rated at 99 kW 480 V at 1,800 rev/min. Both Suderman & Young and Bay-Houston Towing are no strangers to the Z-Tech design. Last year, both companies took delivery of a Z-Tech 2400 design tug from Leevac Shipyards, Jennings, LA. Leevac delivered the Zeus in December to Suderman & Young. Meanwhile, Bay-Houston took delivery of the Chloe K in September. G&H Towing is operating both vessels on behalf of the owners.
OFFSHORE RIG ACTIVIT Y is gaining momentum in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. As of August 8, there were 60 rigs operating in the region—that’s up five from the same period one year ago, according to Baker Hughes’ rotary rig counts. Nor th America is also winning in regards to current rig activity when compared to the rest of the world. As of July 2014, the U.S. accounted for 1,876 rigs in operation, and Canada another 350— bringing the rig count for North America over 2,000. Combined, the rest of the world comes in short at 1,348 rigs in operation. Baker Hughes repor ts that as of August 8, there were 2,295 rigs drilling on land, in inland water and offshore in North America, up 159 rigs from a year ago—and of those 2,295 rigs, 1,588 were drilling for oil, 316 were drilling for gas, and another four for miscellaneous. Additionally, Baker Hughes reports that the five most active states in the U.S. include Texas with 908 rigs; Oklahoma with 211; North Dakota with 182; Louisiana with 113; and New Mexico with 94 rigs.
FIRE ON BOARD product tanker leaves one dead, ship disabled at sea LAST MONTH, AN ENGINE ROOM FIRE on board the 12,105 gross ton tanker, Pine Galaxy, claimed the life of one crew member and disabled the vessel, leaving it and the ship’s 22-person crew without propulsion, 700 miles west of Cape Blanco, OR. While the fire was extinguished using installed firefighting systems, the ship’s generators sustained damage, leaving the crew with minimal battery power. Following the incident, the U.S. Coast Guard swept into action delivering two Iridium telephones and a VHF-FM radio to the ship. Additionally, the crew of the 418-ft National Security Cutter, Stratton, was on the scene to provide assistance, 8 MARINE LOG September 2014
engineering and damage control equipment. Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System vessels were also in place providing ongoing visual assessments of the vessel’s condition. Pine Galaxy’s owner, Tokyo Marine, also contracted Harley Marine Services’ tugboat Millennium Falcon to assess the vessel’s damage. The Anacortes, WA-based tugboat carried a damage control technical specialist on board. At the time of the accident on August 13, the mixed-product carrier was carrying a variety of cargo, including neutral oil, tetramer, propylene tetramer and vegetable oil. Reports indicate no leaking, or damage to
the vessel’s cargo tanks, fuel tanks or hull. At press time, the 485 ft vessel was being towed to San Francisco, where, upon its arrival, a safety and assessment team will meet the ship. The team will be lead by the U.S. Coast Guard and Tokyo Marine. Additionally, several federal, state and local agencies will take part in the effort in order to ensure the safety of the ship’s crew and finalize plans for the ship to be brought into the port for repairs. “Our top priority is ensuring a coordinated effort to get the ship safely into port where repairs can be made,” said Captain Greg Stump, Commander, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco.