Bollinger Inks Two Contracts with Moran Towing

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. of Lockport, La., and Moran Towing Corp., New Canaan, Ct., signed contracts for Bollinger to build one 14,500 short ton bulk barge and one 60,000 barrel Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA’90) double-hull, ocean-going barge. The large bulk barge will be similar to the three bulk barges currently in the Moran fleet, Bridgeport, Somerset and Portsmouth. The barge will be able to carry a wide range of products, including petroleum coke, coal, fertilizers, grains, scrap metal, steel plates, steel coils, sugar, crushed glass and numerous other commodities, as well as finished goods for a variety of long-term and spot customers. The bulk barge will be classed unmanned ocean service with dimensions of 418.5-ft. x 75-ft. x 29-ft. The 60,000 barrel OPA’90 oceangoing tank barge will complement Moran’s fleet of 10 petroleum barges, seven of which are OPA’90 compliant. The new barge measures 350-feet x 70-feet x 25-feet, and is being built as a US flagged vessel, built in compliance with the American Bureau of Shipping, and United States Coast Guard regulations, manned service for the carriage of Grade A and lower petroleum products.

Both vessels are already in production and are being built at the Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C. facility in Amelia, Louisiana. The dry bulk barge is scheduled for delivery in May of 2006 and the 60,000 barrel tank barge will follow with a delivery in September, 2006.