VT Halter Marine has won another contract to build articulated tug barges for Crowley Maritime Corp.’s subsidiary, Vessel Management Services. The four tug barges are valued at $236 million. The tug and barge combination transport vessel is a joint design of Pascagoula-based VT Halter and Crowley, which is headquartered in Oakland, Calif. The barges will be built at the Pascagoula yard and the tugs will be built at the Moss Point Marine Operations.
Each unit consists of an oceangoing tug and a 185,000-barrel, double-hull tank barge. The ATBs are used to transport refined products, heated cargoes and “easy chemicals” which require vents, pumps, tank coatings and other special hauling systems.