Vigor Fab, Portland, Ore., recently began construction on three new pusher tugs at its Portland shipyard for Tidewater Barge Lines, Vancouver, Wash. The 102'×38'×11' boats were designed by CT Marine, Edgecomb, Maine, and will operate on the Columbia River. Twin Caterpillar 3516 Tier 3 engines, producing a total of 4,500 hp, will power each tug. The tugs will be the first newly built vessels for Tidewater in nearly 30 years. Delivery of the first tug will be in December, with the second and third to follow in 2015.

Gulf Coast Shipyard Group, Gulfport, Miss., has launched the first of six 302'×64' dual-fuel offshore supply vessels for Harvey Gulf International Marine, Harvey, La. They will be the first OSVs built in the U.S. to use both diesel and liquefied natural gas as propulsion fuels.  

On Jan. 29, BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards, Jacksonville, Fla., launched the Breeze, the first of four 252'×60'×25'3" platform supply vessels for Jackson Offshore Operators, Harvey, La. The Breeze will be delivered in May. The second PSV, the Thunder, is scheduled for a September delivery. The Lightning and Squall will be delivered in 2015. Designed by Guido Perla & Associates, the 8,070-hp diesel-electric PSVs will work in the U.S. Gulf.

In January, Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Panama City, Fla., launched the HOS Black Foot, the second of six vessels in Hornbeck Offshore’s HOSMAX 310-class series. The 6,144-dwt, diesel-electric 310s measure 302'×64'×26'. Power for the Z-drives and other propulsion thrusters is provided by four Caterpillar 3516C Tier 3 engines. ESG also delivered the HOS Riverbend, the fourth of four 292'×64'×24'6" HOSMAX 300-class OSVs. The 5,650-dwt OSV is powered by four Cat 3516C Tier 3 gensets.

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, Somerset, Mass., has delivered the first of six Chesapeake-class aluminum pilot boats for the Colombian navy. Designed by C. Raymond Hunt & Associates, the 56'7"×17'10" boats have a top speed of 27 knots and are powered by twin MAN R6-800CRM diesel engines, each delivering 800 hp at 2,300 rpm. 

Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair, Erie, Penn., will build a 185,000-bbl. coastal petroleum and chemical barge for Seabulk Tankers, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The ATB barge is scheduled for delivery in 2016. BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards, Jacksonville, Fla., will build the matching 12,000-hp ATB tug.