Lockport, USA: Bollinger Shipyards has delivered 'B. No. 262', a double hull 60,000-barrel oil tank barge built to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA'90) to Bouchard Ocean Services, Melville, USA.
'Barge B. No. 262' is a manned ocean, clean oil tank barge measuring 106.68 metres long, with a 21.3-metre beam and a depth of 7.62 metres.
The barge is built to, and certified by American Bureau of Shipping and United States Coast Guard, to meet the requirements of OPA'90 with ten cargo compartments and two separate pumping systems. The barge is equipped with two Byron Jackson cargo pumps, driven by Detroit series 60 engines, and the deck is equipped with two Techcrane model F10-50 electric-hydraulic cranes.
Morton S. Bouchard, III, President/CEO of Bouchard Affiliates explained that 'B.No.262' was the first of three barges to be delivered within the next ten months. He added that the delivery of the third barge would conclude Bouchard's double hull construction business plan which was implemented in 1992.
"Bouchard's fleet will be completely replaced with flat deck double barges that was retired with the enactment of OPA'90," said Mr Bouchard.
In addition to the 'B. No. 262', Bollinger is also building a near sister ship, 'B. No. 264', another 60,000-barrel clean oil barge scheduled for delivery in March 2010 from Bollinger Marine Fabricators, and 'B. No 282', an 80,000-barrel manned ocean, clean oil barge measuring 121.6 metres long, with a 22.5-metre beam and a depth of 8.5 metres, scheduled to deliver from Bollinger Gretna in June 2009.
