Freeport 2

I took these photos a bit over a week ago, and she’s already most of the way to the Gulf of Mexico.  I know that’s what ocean and coastwise transportation does and how it earns its money, but for some reason I’m still fascinated by this.

Assist was provided by Ruby M.

Chemical Transporter has capacity of 156,000 barrels.

 

The four US Shipping tugs–Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Galveston, and Freeport–are massive:  144′ x 46′ and powered by 12,000hp turning 13′ props . . . .

Can anyone tell me crew size?

All photos, WVD.

Random Tugs 250

To continue on from yesterday’s list . . . I’ve done chugster, jetster, even a gangster . . . though you have to search for it here by scrolling a bit,  but the blog is called tugster, and I’m proud of that some chuckles notwithstanding . . . .

This is a cross section for the 250th time, a random sampling of what tugboats were working in the Upper Bay of NYC aka the sixth boro on a given morning earlier this week.   By the way, the 001 version of this title dates from October 2007.

Vane Brothers boats and barges abound.

Hunting Creek stands by a set of four of them, while

Wye River travels light past the ferry racks.

Franklin Reinauer travels light past the count-defying load of containers on a ULCV over in Global.

ATB Freeport and Chemical Transporter transfer cargo over at the east end of IMTT, at

the same time

Scott Turecamo and New Hampshire do.

CF Campbell stands by with Long Island.

 

And passing an unusual but new landmark along the sixth born margins,

Patrice McAllister makes her way west.  Quick . . . name a larger global garment retailer than H & M, and what the initials H & M expand to?  Answers here.

All photos by Will Van Dorp, whose fingers froze and cold tears flowed while having the float-about, look-about.

 

East River Sight to Behold 2

The sixth boro tidal strait typical known as the East River, surrounded as it is by impressive urbanity, is nonetheless a significant waterway.  These photos today come from Jonathan Steinman, as did these of Ginga Lion, a 507′ loa vessel.

But Jonathan was surprised–as was I when I got his photos– to see ATB Freeport travel through the strait last week, even though New London, its destination, is closer by the “inside” route than by the alternative outside of Long Island, which it followed on the return.  The tape says the tug is 144′ loa and the barge–Chemical Transporter— is 521.’  While tug and barge are notched, the combined length of the units exceeds that of similar large units operated on this strait by Kirby, Bouchard, and Reinauer.  For what that’s worth.  Here’s some backstory on Freeport‘s costly construction.

Thanks to Jonathan for these photos.

Given today’s date, the reference above to Lion, and the beautiful weather outside in NYC, I need to link to this lamb post from a year and a half ago.

Random Tugs 127

To pick up where yesterday I ended . . . Chemical Transporter is not a ship.  Rather it’s the barge married to–or at least in a relationship with–ATB Freeport.

This Workboat article makes clear the circuitous and costly ($91 million !@#@!) route this 150′ tug followed from keel lay to launch.

I’d love to see the interior of this 2007 vessel.

R. L. Enterkin is a tug I’ve seen on AIS for a long time, but the other day,

I finally got a close-up as she went out to pick up a “tail job” at sunrise.

At the head of the tow was Layla Renee.

Click here for many posts I’ve done on Resolute.

Thomas D. Witte–here passing off Wall Street– has carried many names since 1961.

Zachery Reinauer was launched nearly a half century ago at Matton Shipyard . . . up above the Federal Lock in Troy and right across the river from the boyhood home of Herman Melville.

Ellen . . . focus of countless tugster posts… as

has Brendan Turecamo.

HMS Justice–NOT this one–debuts on this blog with the photo below, which almost makes it appear she’s equipped with her very own drone…. but there must be an illusion happening there.

And to close out this post . . . from M. McMorrow . . . the most intriguingly named tug of all . . . Tug of War.

The last photo from Mike and Michelle McMorrow, who’ve contributed photos here before.  All others by Will Van Dorp.

 

Random Tugs 24

Never before have I seen Erie Service (completed retrofit only a few months back),

or Wye River (off the ways in Louisiana only a few months ago),

I have seen Bruce A. McAllister, but not the assisted barge Chemical Transporter or

its articulated tug, Freeport, half sister to the ITBs.

Photos, WVD.