New Tug for E.N. Bisso & Son

A new tug  built by Signet Shipbuilding and Repair was delivered to E.N. Bisso & Son Inc. in mid-December. The vessel, Gladys B, is Robert Allan Ltd.’s newest RApport 2400 class tugboat design.

“She is named for the wife of the founder of the company in 1946, Captain Edwin Napoleon Bisso. This powerful steel titan will serve her owner well. Built in America, built by Americans and built for progress. She will soon be known in Louisiana as the Maserati of the River,” said Signet President, J. Barry Snyder.

Two MTU 16V4000-M64 main engines with EPA Tier 3 emission certification power the Gladys B, driving Rolls Royce US 205FP azimuth thrusters with 2400 mm fixed pitch propellers. Electrical power is generated with two John Deere 6068AFM85 marine generators, with 99 ekW of power each at 480 V. Deck Machinery consists of a Markey DEPGF-42S hawser winch located on the bow and a Markey DEPC-32 towing winch on the stern. The tug is fitted with a 1,300 gpm off-ship fire pump driven via an electric motor.

The Gladys B will join the E.N. Bisso harbor tug fleet, which provides ship assist and harbor docking services over five port jurisdictions in the Gulf of Mexico.

The vessel is the first Robert Allan Ltd. designed tug in the E.N. Bisso’s fleet, and the 10th for Signet Maritime Corporation over the past decade. Four of those tugs were built at Signet’s shipyard in Pascagoula, the Gladys B being the latest on that list. Her sister, the Signet Magic, has been operating as part of Signet’s fleet for three years. Building on the success of a design already well liked by crews, the Gladys B differs from her sister with an increased hull beam, modified skeg, and addition of bilge keels, making it fully ABS Class compliant for escort operations.

The key particulars of the RApport 2400 class tugs are:

•Bollard Pull, Ahead: 63 MT

•Bollard Pull, Astern: 60.5 MT

•Length, overall: 80’-0”

•Beam, moulded: 38’-0”

•Depth, least moulded: 13’-2”

•Maximum draft (overall): 16’-8”

•Gross Tonnage (International): 270 GT

•Complement: 5

Major tank Capacities at 98% are:

•Fuel oil: 28,600 gal

•Potable Water: 8,700 gal

•Sewage holding tank: 900 gal

•Water Ballast: 5,100 gal

The Class notation, per American Bureau of Shipping, under 90m Steel Vessel Rules is:

+A1, Towing Vessel, (Fire Fighting Capability), Escort Vessel, +AMS,