Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering Corp., is one of the most experienced designers of Articulated Tug/Barge (ATB) units in the marine industry, boasting more than 20 years of experience in the design and engineering of ATBs for ocean and coastwise service. As one of the original co-inventors of the INTERCON tug/barge connection system, as well as having engineered the application of other connection systems to many tugs and barges, such as Bludworth, Bark River, and Articouple, the firm has unmatched real-world experience in ATB design. Because ATBs are the firm's focus, it's vast experience in model testing, FEA, transport studies, and contract design enables OT&BE Corp. to apply real-world knowledge gained aboard actual, operating vessels of its' design. To date, the firm has had a hand in the refit or design, of over 26 operational ATBs, all of which are successes for their owners. The firm numbers among its' past clients, such firms as Penn Maritime, Halter Marine, Alabama Shipyard, Reinauer Transportation, and more than 40 other marine transportation and oil/chemical companies. Recent design projects include the tug portions of ATB's building at Alabama Ship for Reinauer and Allied Transportation, current new designs for 10,000 to 18,000 hp ATB tugs and associated barges for various clients, refits of connection systems to existing ATBs - and in late November, the firm will introduce three innovative vessel designs to the marketplace.