Bollinger Hands Over 55,000 Barrel Tank Barge to Bouchard (USA)

Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., Amelia, La., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered the B. No. 250, a newly designed and constructed 55,000 barrel OPA’90 compliant tank barge to Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., Melville, NY. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The announcement was made by Bollinger executive vice president of new construction, Chris Bollinger, “We are very pleased to announce the OPA’90 tank barge, B. No. 250, as another successful delivery to the Bouchard family. Bollinger is grateful to be a part of Bouchard’s continued growth as a leader in the tank barge market. Our relationship has been an important part of Bollinger’s success in building OPA’90 tank barges, and we look forward to future opportunities with the Bouchard family and organization.”

The B. No. 250 is a manned ocean service, clean oil barge measuring 317-ft 6-in long, with a 70-ft beam and a depth of 28-ft. The barge is a new design especially engineered for Bouchard, built and certified by American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The barge is designed to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA’90), with twelve (12) cargo compartments, vapor recovery, and two (2) separate pumping systems, capable of transporting grade A and lower petroleum products. B. No. 250 is fitted with an Intercon coupling ladder system, dual pump ballast system, two (2) Techcrane hose handling cranes, and Coastal marine anchor and mooring winches. The barge is designed with a four man accommodations unit with stateroom, galley and office area.

Morton S. Bouchard III, President/CEO of Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. stated that Bouchard is pleased with another successful construction project with our good partners at Bollinger. The B. No. 250 will be matched up with the M/V Evening Star and will operate on the East Coast as a 55,000 ATB. The M/V Evening Star and B. No. 250 represent the beginning of another construction program for Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. as we look forward to future announcements.

Founded in 1918, Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., (www.bouchardtransport.com) is a total service oil barging company. The Bouchard fleet includes 25 barges ranging from 35,000 BBL to 252,000 BBL and 19 tugs with power ratings from 3,000 to 10,000 horsepower. They serve the U. S. East, Gulf and West Coasts, the Great Lakes, and the Caribbean.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. is a leading designer and builder of ocean-going double hull barges, offshore oil field support vessels, tug boats, rigs, liftboats, inland waterways push boats and barges, fast military patrol boats and other steel and aluminum products from its new construction shipyards. Bollinger has 10 shipyards and all are strategically located between New Orleans and Houston with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Bollinger is the largest vessel repair company in the Gulf of Mexico region with a total of 28 dry-docks in Louisiana and Texas.

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Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, September 5, 2012; Image: Bollinger Shipyards, Inc.