Greenbrier Companies subsidiary Gunderson Marine has entered a binding contract with Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) for the construction of an oil and chemical tank barge.
The 204,000 barrel capacity vessel will be built to carry out dual-mode integrated tug barge (ITB) operation in compliance with US Coast Guard NVIC 2-81, Change 1 standard.
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The 581ft tank barge will also be built to meet the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI Regulation 13 Tier III standards regarding nitrogen oxide emissions within emission control areas.
To be built at Gunderson’s facilities in Portland, Oregon, the vessel will join OSG’s current fleet of articulated tug barge (ATB) once delivered.
Delivery of the vessels is scheduled to take place by the second quarter of 2020.
The newly signed agreement also includes an option to build a second sister barge OSG with delivery planned during the last quarter of 2020.
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By GlobalDataOSG president and CEO Sam Norton said: “This transaction represents the first significant new capital investment into our Jones Act businesses in nearly a decade and is an affirmation of our commitment to operate ATBs, as well as tankers, within this market.
“Following on from the two tanker contracts announced earlier this month, this additional newbuild initiative underscores our leading presence in the US Flag petroleum transportation sector.”
OSG plans to register the new tank barge under the US Flag with a coastwise endorsement, enabling the vessel to conduct business under the Jones Act trades.
Gunderson Marine senior vice-president and general manager Mark Eitzen said: “We have recently added more than 100 workers to our Portland waterfront operations to support our expanded manufacturing of both marine and rail products.
“We expect to add at least 150 new jobs over the next several months, all with competitive pay and benefits, as our total employment in Portland moves above 1,200 people.”
Gunderson currently employs more than 1,000 people at its marine and railcar divisions.
