Harley Marine Services, Seattle, is building two new tractor tugs at Diversified Marine, Portland, Ore.

The new 80’x36’x16’8” tugs are sister-class vessels to the Michelle Sloan and Lela Franco (named to WorkBoat’s 2015 Significant Boats list), and are intended to enhance Harley’s West Coast fleet presence.

Each new vessel will be equipped with a pair of Caterpillar 3516, Tier 3 propulsion engines, for a total of approximately 5,200 hp, and a pair of Caterpillar C7.1, Tier 3 generators. The vessels are each equipped with a Markey bow winch, a barge handling stern winch, and Shibata fendering.

To improve crew comfort and onboard quality of life, sound-proofing material has been added to the bulkheads and decks.

"It gives me great pleasure to name these two tugs after our long-time board member, Rich Padden and the esteemed, Dr. Hank Kaplan of Swedish Cancer Institute,” said Harley Franco, chairman and CEO of Harley Marine Services. The vessels will be named Rich Padden and Dr. Hank Kaplan.

Richard Padden “has been an instrumental leader at Harley Marine Services since inception, serving as a board member and guiding the company through 30 years of growth.” Harley said in a statement announcing the new vessels. Padden sits on the Rainier Scholars' Board of Trustees, which strives to eliminate barriers for students of color that do not have the same access to educational advancement opportunities as their peers. In addition, Padden and his wife Laurie were co-founders of the Cystic Fibrosis Seattle Guild.

Dr. Kaplan, a Seattle-based cancer specialist, started the Kaplan Cancer Research Fund with grant money received for experimental drug trials. Harley Marine's annual golf tournament supports the fund.

“Dr. Kaplan is our hero, inspiration and devoted solider to finding a cure and improving patient care in the fight against cancer,” read a Harley Marine Services statement.

"These two gentleman are true champions of great causes and friends of Harley Marine Services. We are honored to name these vessels after them," Franco said.