Gulf LNG Tugs of Brownsville, LLC (Gulf LNG Tugs) today announced the signing of two construction contracts with Master Boat Builders, Inc. (Master Boat) and Sterling Shipyard, LLC (Sterling) for each shipyard to construct two tugs to serve the Rio Grande LNG export facility (RGLNG), which has commenced construction in Brownsville, Texas.
In consultation with RGLNG, Gulf LNG Tugs selected Master Boat and Sterling after a rigorous bid process.
Each shipyard will construct two Z-Tech 30-80 tugboats designed by naval architect Robert Allan Ltd. These 30-80s represent a proven workhorse in Gulf Coast ports, where affiliates of Gulf LNG Tugs already operate 10 of the same hull design. The tugboats will meet U.S. Coast Guard Sub-M regulations and will be classed through the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). The main propulsion engines are Caterpillar 3516 E, complying with EPA Tier-4 emission standards, and the tugs will receive ABS low emission vessel notation. Main engines are connected to Schottel SRP 510 FP-Z drives fitted with 2.8-meter propellers. The tugs are fitted with a Markey DEPSF-48-100 HP Electric Class III hawser winch, providing full bollard pull performance Render-Recover feature.
The new tugboats will have an overall length of 98.5 feet, beam of 42.7 feet, and a bollard pull of 80 metric tonnes. Additionally, each tug will be equipped with firefighting capabilities to meet the ABS Fire Fighting Class 1 (FiFi 1) classification.
Gulf LNG Tugs of Brownsville, LLC, is a joint venture formed to provide tug services for RGLNG under a long-term Tug Services Agreement. It is owned by Bay-Houston Towing Co., in Houston, Texas; Moran Towing Corporation, in New Canaan, Connecticut; and Suderman & Young Towing Company, in Houston, Texas. Gulf LNG Tugs represents the third joint venture formed by the ownership team to provide safe, environmentally sensitive, and reliable tug services to a Gulf Coast LNG project.
Master Boat Builders, Inc. has provided marine construction services for over 40 years. Based in Coden, Alabama, the shipyard has delivered more than 430 vessels to customers over the world.
Sterling Shipyard, LLC, located in Port Neches, Texas, has provided marine construction and repair services since 2009. In 2022 and 2023 it has invested to expand its infrastructure to continue serving as a premier Gulf Coast shipyard.