2017 Sales and Charters

Marcon International is pleased to report sixteen sales and tows concluded in 2017. Several additional sales are pending. A 5,000+ HP twin screw tug continues to be fixed on previously arranged long-term charter.

As the last transaction of 2017, Marcon International brokered the sale of the U.S. flag ocean tank barge "Klamath" from Crowley Maritime of Seattle, Washington to U.S. Northwest private buyers. The 350.0' x 76.1' x 22.0' depth, single side / double bottom barge was built in 1990 as Hull 350-2 by Southern Oregon Marine of Coos Bay, Oregon for Sause Bros. Ocean Towing of Coos Bay, Oregon. Barge is classed ABS +A1 Tank Barge and U.S. Coast Guard Inspected for Grade "B" and lower petroleum products & chemicals. The 9,800ltdw barge was converted by Crowley in 2012 for oil spill response service and is capable of carrying abt. 76,900bbl liquid cargo in 21 tanks. Barge is fitted with six 11", 4-stage Byron Jackson, deepwell cargo pumps, four Intercon mooring winches, a hydraulic anchor windlass, Alaskan Marine 70' fixed boom hose crane and a 100kW / GM6-71 generator. New owners plan to convert the barge to alternate service. Marcon acted as sole broker in the transaction. Marcon has handled more than 100 sales and purchases for Crowley Maritime and numerous sales on behalf of the buyer.

A U.S. flag, 170' aluminum, Fast Crew/Supply Vessel was sold to private buyers. The vessel measuring 170' loa x 155.4' lbp x 34' beam x 12.8' depth was built in 2003 by Neuville Boat Works, New Iberia, Louisiana. The vessel is classed ABS + A1, HSC Crewboat + AMS + DPS-1 and USCG certified under Subchapter T & L. Capacity is 416mt deadweight including deck cargo of 370MT on 2,752ft2 clear deck. Vessel is powered by four Cummins KTA50M2 developing a total 7,200BHP at 1,900RPM driving four 52" x 54" fixed pitch propellers. Speed is about 23-26 knots. The vessel has quarters for 10 in 5 cabins and passengers seating for 81. Marcon acted as sole broker in the transaction.

A 2,200dwt, Bureau Veritas classed landing craft was sold by Marcon on a private & confidential basis. The 78.1m x 16.0m x 4.8m, Wartsila Ship Design vessel was built in 2011 and suitable for carriage of 144 TEU containers on a 920m2 clear deck. Full load draft is about 3.5m at a displacement of 3,371 tonnes. The design features a classic cargo landing craft profile with a flat-bottom and long forward cargo deck with an aft superstructure and raised foc'stle with a 70 tonne capacity, 8m long x 6.5m wide bow ramp. A pair of bow anchor windlasses along with a 3.0 tonne pull stern winch facilitate beach landings with the bow ramp allowing for rapid loading and unloading of cargo even at ports with limited facilities. Propulsion is provided by twin 1,119kW Cummins KTA-38M2 diesels developing a total of 2,700BHP at 2,050RPM through Twin Disc MG5321 4.96:1 gears to manganese bronze, 4-blade, fixed pitch props. This gives the vessel a maximum speed of abt. 12.3kn and economic full-load cruising speed of abt. 8kn on abt. 6 tonnes diesel per day. A fuel capacity of abt. 496 tonnes allows for a range of over 7,200nm. Maneuverability is improved by a 350HP bow thruster. Electrical power is provided by three 150kW auxiliary Cummins NTA-855 and one 120kW emergency generators. The pilothouse is outfitted with a modern, primarily Furuno supplied, electronics package and all-round windows provide excellent 360 degree visibility. Air conditioned accommodations are provided for up to 18 crew in 10 cabins. Marcon acted as sole broker.

Marcon recently fixed the tow of the 400.3' x 106.3' x 28.3' depth heavy lift crane barge "Pacific Lifter" (ex-Maya, McDermott Derrick Barge No. 17) from Tuxpan on Mexico’s East Coast to Ensenada, Mexico where it was handed over to Boyer Towing’s 4,000HP tug "Billie H" to continue on to Seattle, Washington. The 3,000HP, ABS loadlined twin screw tug "Simone", purchased by TradeWinds Towing LLC of New Orleans through Marcon, handled the 3,900 mile tow without incident via the Panama Canal except for an eight day delay at the Canal which seems to becoming the "new norm". The 120' x 31' x 15' depth, 1970 McDermott built twin screw tug powered by twin EMD 12-645E2s, Lufkin 4.128:1 gears and 103" x 82" five blade fixed pitch props is set up for ocean towing, barge handling and salvage work. Towing gear consists of a Markey TDSD-32 double drum winch with a capacity for two 2,300' 2" wires and a stern roller. Marcon has previously fixed numerous tows with TradeWinds including two 5,000 plus nautical mile tows from the U.S. West to the U.S. Northeast Coast.

The 5,750BHP, U.S. flag tug "Ocean Pathfinder" has been sold to U.S. West Coast buyers after her completion of a three year bareboat charter to Hawaiian operators. After becoming charter-free and returning to the mainland, the tug underwent her five year ABS class survey renewal prior to the sale and went to work the next day towing a barge to Alaska. In 2013, prior to her longterm bareboat charter, "Ocean Pathfinder" completed a major rebuild and update of all certificates. The tug performed well during her three years of charter, brokered by Marcon, and proved to be a real work horse towing both in Hawaiian waters and to Alaska in all weather and sea conditions. Originally built in 1970 by J.R. McDermott Shipyard in Amelia, Louisiana as the "Pathfinder" (Hull 160), the tug is one of several 136' x 36.5' x 19.2' depth, well-known McDermott hulls still plying the waters of the U.S. and abroad. The tug is powered by a pair of EMD 16-645E5 diesels driving twin five-blade, fixed pitch 120" x 88" stainless steel props via Falk MRV3048 4.35:1 gears. Bollard pull is just shy of 70 tons. Main engines were overhauled and "zeroed-out" in 2016. Upon completion of fresh five-year ABS class certificates, the tug, now renamed "Island Explorer" was delivered in very good condition to begin her next trading career under new ownership. Tug packs about 218,000g of fuel making her a good long-distance tower and is very maneuverable for a vessel of her size with a triple rudder system and open wheels. The double drum Markey TDS 36C tow winch has a capacity of 2,200' 2.25" and 2,600' 2.125" wire on each drum. A Markey WYM-20 windlass is fitted forward and hydraulic tow pins aft.

Full 2017 Sales report is available here: 2017 Sales Report.pdf