USA: SIGNAL INTERNATIONAL Begins Final Assembly of Two ATB Units

Construction works on two Articulated Tug Barge units ordered by Kirby Ocean Transport Company are on schedule at SIGNAL INTERNATIONAL state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Orange, Texas. The ATBs are built and painted under cover with final assembly at SIGNAL’s launchways. The first unit is scheduled to be delivered in the fourth quarter of this year with the second following soon after.

SIGNAL INTERNATIONAL initially signed a contract for one unit. Since contracting Kirby has exercised their option for a second Tug/Barge unit.

The Ocean Tug and Barge designed ATB is a 20,000 DWT bulker carrier propelled by a 6,000 horsepower tug. The barge measures 480′ x 90′ x 36′ and is outfitted with Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering’s Articouple connection. The 6,000 HP tugboat measures 125′ x 42′ x 22′ and is classed to ABS Maltese Cross, +A1 Ocean Towing Service standards. The AT/B will transport dry-bulk commodities in United States coastwise trade.

Signal takes advantage of its in house steel processing facility with its wheels-a-brade and paint facility, NC plasma cutters, 350’ bed panel line and covered manufacturing plant.

SIGNAL INTERNATIONAL operates three shipyards on the Gulf of Mexico. SIGNAL SHIP REPAIR in Mobile, Alabama with two dry docks (one Panamax size, one 4200 ton dry dock), specializes in repair and conversion, SIGNAL INTERNATIONAL in Pascagoula, Mississippi keys in on rig repair and marine fabrication and SIGNAL INTERNATIONAL Orange, Texas in new construction. This facility recently completed two of the world’s largest floating power generation barges within a 180-day production schedule.

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Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, March 15, 2012; Images: signalint