Bender Signs Contract to Build Tugs

Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Inc., Mobile, Ala., has signed a contract for the construction of three 150-ft. anchor handling tugs for Otto Candies, LLC, Des Allemands, La. In addition to the contracted three orders, the contract grants Otto Candies, LLC, an option to purchase five more identical vessels. The first three vessels will be delivered in 2000. The anchor handling tug dimensions are 150 x 50 x 21 ft. and have a 10,000 hp capacity. The vessels will have a triple screw propulsion system from Stewart and Stevenson Services, Inc. with two EMD 16-645-E6 diesel engines driving outboard Aquamaaster Z-drives and one EMD 20-710-G7B diesel engine through a Reintjes 6.19:1 reverse reduction gear driving a fixed pitch centerline propeller inside a kort nozzle. Deck machinery will consist of a SMATCO Model 86-DARW-250 412,000 lb. line pull Double Drum Reverse Waterfall Towing/Anchor Handling Winch; two SMATCO tuggers rated at 20,000 lbs. line pull; one set of SMATCO Model 14 x 24 pop up towing pins; and one SMATCO Model 300 T Shark Jaw.