Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. launches the OCEANUS for Suderman & Young Towing Company

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. launched the Escort Tug OCEANUS for Suderman & Young Towing Company on April 26, 2016. This series of Robert Allan, LTD. (RAL) designed Z-Tech 2400 Class Terminal & Escort Tugs is currently under construction at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility. The vessel is scheduled for delivery later in July 2016, the Company said in a press release.

The launch ceremony was held at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility and hosted by Joey D’Isernia, President of Eastern, with employees and guests in attendance. He spoke about the dedication and hard work of all of ESG’s employees, making the series of tugs a success.

Father Roy Marien of St. John’s Catholic Church of Panama City blessed the vessel and Eastern’s own, accounting assistant Carol McMillin, had the honor of christening the vessel. The OCEANUS (ESG Hull #240) is the third of a series of four (4) Z-Tech Class Terminal & Escort Tugs being constructed for Suderman & Young Towing Company. The TRITON (ESG Hull #235), the lead vessel in the series that delivered in December 2015. The second in the series, the NEPTUNE (ESG Hull #237) delivered in March 2016. Eastern is also constructing another identical series of four (4) tugs for Bay Houston Towing Company. G&H Towing Company is the Owners’ onsite Representative and Agent during the engineering, construction and delivery for both Suderman & Young and Bay Houston. G&H Towing Company will operate the vessels after delivery.

Robert Allan, LTD (RAL) of Vancouver, B.C. provided the Z-Tech 2400 Class Terminal & Escort Tugs design and engineering. G&H Towing's fleet currently consists of eight “Z-Tech” tugs in operation. This “Z-Tech” incorporates the latest technology for escort service and ship assist. With a large and modern tugboat fleet, Suderman & Young Towing Company continues to be the first name in general harbor and coastal marine tug-towing services for over a century. Serving the Texas Gulf Coast 24/7 and towing a wide range of marine vessels, you won’t find a more experienced tugboat fleet than that of Suderman and Young.

G&H Towing Company will provide the onsite representation for both Owners as the Owners’ Agent during the engineering, construction and delivery phases of these contracts. At delivery, G&H Towing will operate each vessel as it has in the past. Since 1934, it is one of the oldest and most progressive towing companies on the Texas Gulf Coast. G&H Towing operates an outstanding fleet of over 30 harbor tugs with state-of-the-art equipment. They operate harbor tugs in the largest ports in the United States Gulf Coast with operations in Houston, Galveston, Texas City, Corpus Christi and Freeport.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. has two new construction and repair facilities in Panama City, Florida and has been in business since 1976 building new, converting and repairing vessels in steel and aluminum of all types including: offshore and harbor tugs, offshore/platform supply vessels, multi-purpose construction vessels, research vessels, firefighting vessels, barges, ferries, passenger vessels, fishing vessels and inland towboats. Eastern’s diversity and commitment to its customers makes its one of the most successful U.S. shipbuilders in the marine shipbuilding industry. Eastern will continue to provide quality service and grow its facilities along with its strong workforce of men and women who are always eager for the next new construction, conversion or repair challenge.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. has over the years constructed and delivered twenty-six (26) Z-drive tugs of similar size and complexity for several customers in the United States. With these Z-Tech series tugs, Eastern maintains its reputation as one of the largest Z-drive tug new construction shipyards in North America.