The Greenbrier Companies, Inc., announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Gunderson Marine LLC (Gunderson Marine), has entered an agreement for the construction of a 55,000-barrel-capacity articulated tug barge (ATB) with Crowley Fuels (Crowley), the Alaska-based business unit of Crowley Maritime Corporation, a provider of marine solutions and energy and logistics services.
Construction on the barge will begin in the first quarter of calendar 2020, and delivery is expected by January 2021. Barge construction will occur at Gunderson Marine, located along the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. The barge will be dual-certified to comply with both U.S. EPA Tier III and IMO Tier III air-quality emission standards, a rigorous set of U.S. and International standards intended to significantly reduce nitrous oxide emissions from marine diesel engines. The vessel will primarily operate in Western Alaska. This is the 10th barge Gunderson Marine has built for Crowley since 1985, when Greenbrier acquired Gunderson.
“Gunderson Marine has a deep-rooted history serving Crowley,” said William A. Furman, Greenbrier Chairman and CEO. “We’re pleased to continue this legacy with one of the world’s premier marine solutions companies, and one of our largest and most prominent customers. This is an exciting opportunity, and we look forward to collaborating during the construction of this vessel.”
Operating from the largest side-launch shipyard on the West Coast, Gunderson Marine is the only West Coast shipyard that has built large, articulated tug barges, while also leading the industry in the number of ATBs built over the past five years. In addition to tank barges, the facility has also successfully completed deck barges, dump scows, oil spill recovery vessels, crane barges and hopper barges. Gunderson Marine barges are compliant with the Jones Act, a law requiring any vessel that ships goods between U.S. ports to be manufactured in the United States.
“Our new ATB will continue Crowley Fuels’ long-standing commitment to provide Alaska with safe and dependable marine transportation to serve the energy needs of the state,” said Rick Meidel, Vice President and General Manager, Crowley Fuels Alaska. “We look forward to working with Gunderson to build a both high-performing and efficient vessel, to serve the state and enhance our overall operations. The vessel’s capabilities will meet the particular needs of Western Alaska, which depends on maneuverable and functional vessels for reliable supply of its communities’ fuel needs.
