Eastern Shipbuilding launches the C.D WHITE for E.N. Bisso & Son
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. is pleased to announce the launching of the first of two 80’ 5,100 HP Z-Drive Tugs. The C.D. WHITE for Bisso Offshore, LLC, a division of E.N. Bisso & Son, Inc., launched on August 22, 2019. A RAL RApport 2400 Z-Drive Ship-handling Tug design was provided by Robert Allan Ltd located in Vancouver, Canada. The C.D. White is currently under construction at Eastern’s Allanton facility, along with a sister vessel, the A. THOMAS HIGGINS. The C.D. WHITE is scheduled to be delivered in December of this year.
The launch ceremony was held at Eastern’s Allanton facility hosted by Patrick D’Isernia, Eastern’s Project Manager and Brian D’Isernia Eastern’s Founder/CEO. Joey D’Isernia, Eastern’s President, and Marvin Serna, Vice President of Operations, along with several of Eastern employees and guests in attendance with perfect crane launch weather conditions. Connie Sandras, Chief Administrative Officer, Mike Vitt, Vice President and Port Captain Mike Killelea of E.N. Bisso were present. Father Kevin McQuone of St. John’s the Evangelist Catholic Church of Panama City blessed the vessel and Father Luke Farabaugh from St. Dominic Catholic Church attended the ceremony. Connie Sandras christened the C.D. WHITE as the vessel’s sponsor on this August summer day.
E.N. Bisso is one of Eastern’s long term valued customers and has taken delivery of four previous modern Z-drive Ship Assist Tugs from Eastern starting in 2007 (JOSEPHINE ANNE, BEVERLY B., ELIZABETH B and the ARCHIE T. HIGGINS). These two new Robert Allan RApport 2400 design tugs have been customized by the designer, the builder and owner to provide specific operational features including 63+ ton bollard pull, enhanced maneuverability and escort performance, better fuel economy, crew comfort, safety under the new USCG Sub-M requirements and reduced emissions meeting the new EPA Tier 4 emissions regulations.
The boat is named after Cornelius Dee “Jack” White, Jr. Jack White was an owner of E.N. Bisso and was married to the Company’s then President Beverly Bisso White. Mr. White was instrumental in the management and growth of the Company in its early days. It is the second boat to be named for Jack White in recognition of his place in the Company’s history.
E.N. Bisso currently has a tug fleet of 17 vessels featuring a blend of seven modern tractorclass/equivalent tugs along with conventional twin-screw tugs. Whatever the challenges that may be presented by the mighty Mississippi River, in the Port of Gulfport, MS or at Port Canaveral, FL, E.N. Bisso has the optimal equipment to service the varied needs of the diverse mix of cargo vessels that call in the country’s largest port complex as well as other ports. E.N. Bisso is proudly owned by the fifth-generation family descendants of Captain Joseph Bisso who innovatively founded the company by launching a ferry service to row people across the Mississippi River in Downtown New Orleans.
E.N. Bisso can trace these early days of the company’s activities back to 1880 and the oars in the company’s logo are a salute to its origins. This enterprise quickly expanded to employ the use of steam-powered ferries and tugs. The ferry business grew into a sizable venture and was eventually sold to the State of Louisiana. In 1946 the company was split up and Captain Edwin Napoleon Bisso formed his own company with 6 tugboats and 2 heavy-lift derricks, later naming it E.N. Bisso & Son. Since then the company has grown and evolved to its position today as a leading U.S. Gulf and East Coast provider of harbor tug and towing services.
Robert Allan Ltd. is a firm of internationally recognized Naval Architects in Vancouver, Canada. Since 1930, Robert Allan Ltd. has built a reputation for innovative designs for vessels of almost all types, from high-performance tugs to ferries to sophisticated research vessels. Robert Allan Ltd. is committed to providing the highest possible standards of professional marine design and engineering services to their valued clients, thereby creating innovative working vessels that embody efficiency, durability and performance. They are committed to making the vessels built to our designs as safe and efficient as possible for the crews that work on them, and for the people who own them.
Eastern Shipbuilding Group is a family held shipbuilding company located in Panama City, Florida since 1976 and has been a long-time employer in Bay County. Since 2008, Eastern has spent more than $75 million dollars upgrading and expanding its facilities and shipbuilding capabilities to continue expanding and meeting the needs of its commercial and government customers. Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. has two new construction and repair facilities engaged in new construction and repair of all types of steel and aluminum vessels including harbor/escort/ship assist tugs, offshore tugs, dredges, offshore/platform supply vessels, ATB’s, multi-purpose construction vessels, research vessels, firefighting vessels, barges, dredges, ferries, passenger vessels, fishing vessels and inland towboats. Eastern maintains its role as one of the most diversified and innovative construction shipyards in the United States.