VESSEL REVIEW | Soaring Eagle – Colonial Towing's new pusher tug for US East Coast operations

Savannah, Georgia-based fuel products transport specialist the Colonial Group, through its subsidiary Colonial Towing, recently placed a new inland tug into service.

Named Soaring Eagle, the tug was built by Eymard Marine Construction and Repair of Harvey, Louisiana, to a design by engineering firm Entech. It will be operated as part of an articulated tug and barge unit transporting up to 32,000 barrels of fuel products between Charleston, South Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida.

Propulsion optimised for heavy-duty use

The tug has an LOA of 67.5 feet (20.6 metres), a beam of 28 feet (8.5 metres), a full load draught of eight feet (2.0 metres), and a total installed power of 1,600 hp (1,200 kW). The two Caterpillar C32 main engines are US EPA Tier III-compliant and drive Sound propellers via Twin Disc MGX5321 gearboxes to provide propulsive power while steering is via two rudders and a Hydra Force system.

Two John Deere 65kW generators meanwhile supply electrical power for the various onboard systems, which include engine alarms from Hydra Force.

Duramax seals and bearings were used on the propeller shafts while a Duracooler cooling system is used for the engines.

Ample crew amenities

The electronics suite features a Furuno package consisting of three radars, a depth sounder, an AIS, and a satellite compass. The other electronics include two Nauticomp displays, three Icom VHF radios, and a Standard hailer with intercom.

The crew accommodation spaces are located on the second deck of the superstructure and includes four double-berth cabins and a galley with cold storage facilities. Between each pair of crew berths is an adjoining toilet. Flexcore vinyl and FRP paneling were used for the deckhouse floors.

Fendering for the tug was provided by Schuyler Maritime while tank capacities are 18,400 gallons (69,700 litres), 4,361 gallons (16,510 litres), 435 gallons (1,650 litres) and 277 gallons (1,050 litres) for fuel, freshwater, lube oil and gear oil, respectively.

Patterson Manufacturing provided two 40-ton bow winches and two 20-ton stern winches. The winch arrangement is in compliance with towing standards being implemented on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

Soaring Eagle is the fourth vessel to join the current active fleet of Colonial Towing.