Bender and Otto Candies Agree On Tugs

Bender Shipbuilding and Repair Co., and Otto Candies have signed a contract for three 150 ft. (45.7 m) Anchor Handling Tugs to be constructed by the Mobile, Ala., shipbuilding company. The contract, which requires the trio of vessels to be delivered in 2000, also grants Otto Candies an option to purchase five more identical tugs. Measuring 150 x 50 x 21 ft. (45.7 x 15.2 x 6.4 m), with a 10,000-hp capacity, the vessels hold a Stewart & Stevenson triple screw propulsion system, with two EMD diesel engines driving outboard Aquamaster Z-drives and one EMD diesel engine through a Reintjes reverse reduction gear. Deck machinery aboard the tug group will consist of a SMATCO line pull Double Drum Reverse Waterfall Towing/Anchor Handling Winch; two SMATCO tuggers rated at 20,000 lbs. line pull, and one set each of SMATCO's 14 x 24 Pop Up towing pins and Model 300T Shark Jaw.