Foss Maritime Christens Tier 4 Tug

Seattle-based Foss Maritime christened the new 90-ton tugboat Jamie Ann on February 29.

The first of four new ASD-90 tugs under construction at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland, Wash., the newbuild will be followed by sister vessels Sarah Averick, Leisa Florence and Rachael Allen, all scheduled to be delivered this year for service within the Saltchuk Marine family of companies.

Jamie Ann’s upgrades include two MTU Tier 4 engines producing 6,866 horsepower which meet the EPA’s highest standards. The engines reduce particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions to near zero through an selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system but are also powerful enough to escort the largest tankers and containerships calling the U.S. West Coast ports she will serve.

“We’re building these vessels to the most stringent emissions standards in the world,” said Janic Trepanier, the Foss naval architect managing the project. “These were built to satisfy the requirements of the State of California – requirements we believe will soon be required of the rest of the country and the world.”

The vessel's upgraded safety features focus on crew safety on deck, wheelhouse visibility, winch operations and sound abatement in the engine room and staterooms, Foss said.

The Jamie Anne is slated to deploy in mid-March to Foss Harbor Services in San Francisco Bay where she will provide tanker escort and assists for Foss Maritime’s oil and has customers.