Bid Solicitation for 60,000 bbls DH Oil Barge

An invitation to bid on the construction of a new 60,000 BBLS Double Hull Oil Barge for Harbor Bunkering Corporation of San Juan, Puerto Rico is expected this quarter.

Bristol Harbor Marine Design (BHMD) is currently designing the vessel for the San Juan based bunkering company, while the 30,000 BBLS Double Hull Oil Barge that BHMD designed for the company last year is being completed at Orange Shipbuilding, Orange, Texas. BHMD is also working on a tug design for the client, which will go out to bid later this year.

Harbor Bunkering Corporation’s Operations Manager, Eric Rivera, is excited about the new tug and barge. “Although not an Articulated Tug and Barge (ATB), we are specifically designing the two vessels to work together hand in glove,” said Mr. Rivera. “The combination is going to greatly improve the capacity and efficiency of our fleet.”

The same development team is in place for both of the new vessels, with BHMD designing and overseeing the construction of the vessels, and Genoa Design International, Limited (Genoa) supplying the lofting and hull construction drawings. The vessel is to be classed ABS Maltese Cross A1 Oil Tank Barge, certificated for oceans service, and has ten cargo tanks and three manifolds for loading and discharging at a myriad of locations. The 350’ x 65’ x 26’ flush deck, double hull oil tank barge is fitted with 14” suction headers, and the cargo pumps include one turbine pump for lighter cargoes, Byron Jackson model number 12LS16GMC, and one IMO 4131C-800 JD screw type pump for more viscous cargos. The vessel will normally carry both heavy fuel and diesel oil, necessitating a relatively complex piping and internal transfer arrangement.

Bill Jordan, one of BHMD’s senior naval architects, was chosen to manage both designs based on his excellent performance designing the 30,000 BBLS barge currently under construction. “I am very pleased with the Bristol Harbor/Genoa team,” said Mr. Rivera, “and so I’ve kept the arrangement exactly as it was with the ENTERPRISE [30,000 BBLS barge]. Having the designer and the lofter work directly for me has allowed me to have more control over the designs, and allows the designs to serve as an investment for my company. Why pay the shipyard to hire Bristol Harbor to design the vessel, when I can do it myself? I like Owner Furnished Equipment (OFE) when I build a vessel, why not have an Owner Furnished Design too?”

BHMD expects to solicit bids for the barge during the first quarter of 2006. Preliminary specifications can be found by visiting BHMD’s website at: http://www.bristolharborgroup.com/downloads.html, and selecting the documents under “Project 05475 - 350' x 65' x 26' 60,000 BBL Double Hull Oil Tank Barge for Harbor Bunkering Corporation (San Juan, Puerto Rico)”.

Additionally, BHMD encourages all interested shipyards to contact BHMD by phone (401) 253-4318, fax (401) 253-2329, or email [email protected] if they are interested in being on the bidder list for the barge.