ATB contract pushes Signal's backlog to $100 million

摘要

Signal International, Mobile, Ala., has pushed its order backlog to $100 million at its Orange, Tex., facility, thanks to a recent contract to build a second Articulated Tug Barge unit for Kirby Ocean Transport Co., Houston, Tex. Work on Kirby's first ATB unit is expected to start in the fourth quarter of this year. The AT/B units are comprised of a 20,000 dwt ocean bulk barge with a 6,000 bhp ocean tug. Each barge measures 480 ft x 90 ft x 36 ft and will be outfitted with Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering's Articouple connection. The 6,000 hp tugboat will be 125 ft x 42 ft x 22 ft built and classed to ABS Maltese Cross, +A1 Ocean Towing Service standards. The AT/B's will transport dry-bulk commodities in U.S. coastwise trade.