Innovative new tug for Foss Maritime
Seattle based Foss Maritime have christened the first of three Arctic Class tugs designed for operation in extreme conditions and now ready for its first job, an oil industry tow from South Korea to the Alaskan Arctic.
Michele Foss was built at the Foss Rainier, Oregon Shipyard and named recently at Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma, Washington by the vessel’s namesake, Michele Seaver, one of three sisters who are primary shareholders of Saltchuk, parent company of Foss Maritime. Ms Seaver had the honour of breaking the ceremonial bottle of champagne on the hull of the Michele Foss after Ken Hawking, executive director of the Mission to Seafarers – Seattle, delivered the invocation to bless the vessel. The remaining two will be named for Ms Seaver’s sisters, Denise Tabbutt and Nicole Engle.
The tug complies with requirements contained in the ABS ‘Guide for Building and Classing Vessels Intended to Operate in Polar Waters’ and is built to ice class DO with the hull designed specifically for polar waters and reinforced to manoeuvre in ice. Other standards include ABS A1, SOLAS and Green Passport.
The machinery includes two Caterpillar C280-8 engines which comply with the highest federal environmental standards, a Nautican propulsion system and Reintjes reduction gears. The tug’s bollard pull figure is quoted as 221,000 lbs and a double drum towing winch supplied by Markey Machinery is located aft.
A number of environmentally focused designs along with structural and technological upgrades introduce a degree of innovation including: elimination of ballast tanks, removing the chances of transporting invasive species; holding tanks for black and grey water to permit operations in no-discharge zones (including parts of Alaska and California); hydraulic oil systems compatible with biodegradable oil; energy efficient LED lighting; and high-energy absorption Schuyler fendering.
Mike Magill, vice president of Foss Technical Services praised the hardworking men and women who constructed the vessel saying: “As we know, a construction project of this magnitude requires significant teamwork to accomplish,” adding: “Engineers, craftsmen, purchasing and logistics experts, to name a few, have gone beyond the call of duty to deliver this vessel safely, on time and on budget.”
By Peter Barker
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