Tidewater Transportation selects Oregon builder for new liquid cargo barges

Vancouver, Washington-based Tidewater Transportation and Terminals (TTT) has finalized a contract with Gunderson Marine and Iron, a Portland, Oregon-based shipyard, for the construction of four new liquid refined product barges in a series.

TTT will operate the barges to serve customers in the Pacific Northwest. Each vessel will measure 272 feet (82.9 metres) long, 42 feet (13 metres) wide, and 18.5 feet (5.64 metres) deep and will have a capacity of 20,000 barrels.

Designed and constructed for service on the Columbia Snake River System, these inland liquid tank barges will be certified by the US Coast Guard and comply with OPA 90 requirements.

The first two barges are scheduled for delivery in May and July 2026, with the remaining two arriving in November 2026 and February 2027, respectively.

Design work on the barges will be provided by the Elliott Bay Design Group based in Seattle. They will be operated out of TTT's flagship terminal in Pasco, Washington.