Giant Tier III-compliant ATB joins OSG’s fleet

U.S.- based tanker company Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) has taken delivery of the OSG 204, a 204,000 barrel capacity oil and chemical tank barge, built by Greenbrier Marine, a division of The Greenbrier Companies.

The Jones Act barge has been built in compliance MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 13 Tier III standards regarding nitrogen oxide emissions within emission control areas. Under the Tier III standard, NOx emissions must be reduced by approximately 75% when compared to Tier I engines.

The Tier III requirements apply to all new-build vessels that are 500 GT and above, with a length of at least 24 metres and sailing within an ECA.

The barge has been paired with an existing tug within the OSG fleet, the OSG Endurance, and will travel to the Gulf of Mexico to perform a spot voyage. After that the ATB is scheduled to start a long-term charter commitment in the second quarter of 2020 with an unidentified long-term customer of OSG.

Greenbrier Marine is also constructing a second sister barge which has a scheduled delivery date during the 4^th quarter of 2020.

“Completing a complex engineering and construction project on time and on budget is a challenge under any circumstances,” said Sam Norton, OSG’s President and CEO.

“Having done so under the constraints imposed by COVID-19 makes that achievement all the more laudable.”

“The launching of OSG 204 was completed in December and the christening was celebrated on May 19 at the first virtual barge christening in the history of Greenbrier Marine, an adaptation necessitated by COVID-19,” said Richard Hunt, General Manager of Greenbrier Gunderson in Portland, Oregon.

“We are thankful for the collaborative work with OSG and all major equipment vendors and suppliers and are pleased to deliver this Jones Act-compliant barge as the start of a long-term relationship with OSG.”

Source: World Maritime News