Crowley Marine Services Takes Delivery of First of Two 153
Tractor Tug Nanuq Exceeds Expectations in Sea Trials
(Seattle, Wash.; January 19, 1999)—Crowley Marine Services (CMS) took delivery this week of Nanuq, the first of two 153-ft., 10,192 horsepower-enhanced tractor tugs from Crowley Maritime Corporation subsidiary Vessel Management Services, Inc. Nanuq and her sister vessel Tanerliq have been specially designed and developed for CMS under contract with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company for tanker escort operations in Valdez Harbor and Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Because of their intended service environment, these vessels were designed to demanding specifications as the most powerful cycloidal propulsion tugs ever built, capable of a bollard pull of 208,000 pounds and a vessel speed of 14.5 knots. In sea trials, the vessel was found to deliver in excess of 210,000 pounds of bollard pull and a top vessel speed of just under 16 knots.
“Nanuq has performed remarkably well,” said Tom Crowley, chairman, president and CEO, Crowley Maritime Corporation—the parent corporation of Crowley Marine Services, Inc. “We are proud to have exceeded not only our own initial performance estimates, but also to exceed the expectations of the customer.”
The Nanuq is the first of two Prince William Sound Class tractor tugs designed and constructed for Vessel Management Services. (VMS), a Crowley Maritime Corporation subsidiary which owns and leases vessels to CMS. Nanuq is powered by two Caterpillar 3612 engines driving twin Voith Schneider cycloidal propulsion units. Both vessels will be outfitted for tanker escort services, ship handling, firefighting, and emergency and spill response in Alaskan waters. Design features include a hydrofoil-shaped skeg, welded steel construction, transverse framing, wing tanks and ice belting. The naval architects for the project are Guido Perla & Associates. The Nanuq was constructed at Dakota Creek Shipyard in Anacortes, Washington.
Crowley Marine Services, Inc., headquartered in Seattle, Washington, provides specialized marine transportation and logistics services on a worldwide basis, operating one of the worlds largest fleets of marine and related equipment. The companys primary services include tanker escort and ship assist; petroleum transportation and sales; contract barge transportation and ocean towing; logistics and support services; marine salvage and emergency response services by CMS and the joint venture Marine Response Alliance; U.S. West Coast spill response services provided by the joint venture Clean Pacific; and all-terrain transportation.