VT Halter Marine Inc., Pascagoula, Miss., has launched the second of two articulated tug-barge (ATB) units for Bouchard Transportation Co., part of a major expansion program for the Melville, N.Y.-based coastal and oceangoing petroleum barge company.
The 628’x91’x47 B. No. 272 has a 250,000-bbl. capacity, and is ABS and Coast Guard certified for Jones Act service. When completed, the barge will be paired with the tug Donna J. Bouchard, which was launched by VT Halter in September.
“The launching of the B. No. 272 is another milestone in the construction program that Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc., entered into with VT Halter Marine two years ago,” said Morton S. Bouchard, III, president/CEO of Bouchard Transportation. “The B. No. 272, will join her sister vessel the B. No. 270 in Bouchard’s fleet, as the most modern and technically equipped ATB’s on the Jones Act Trade.”
The first ATB unit, the Kim M. Bouchard and barge B. No. 270, was christened by Bouchard Transportation in July and is currently in service.
