Crowley to purchase four articulated tug-barges

Crowley to purchase four articulated tug-barges    Crowley Maritime Corp. said Tuesday that its Vessel Management Services subsidiary has signed a contract with VT Halter Marine Inc. to build four articulated tug-barge, 185,000-barrel tank vessels.
   The new vessels will have an estimated delivered cost of $236 million, including owner-furnished equipment. The vessels will be delivered in six-month intervals from the first half of 2009 through the end of 2010.
   The four new ATBs (Pride/650-7, Achievement/650-8, Innovation/650-9 and Vision/650-10) will be operated by Crowley’s petroleum services segment as they are completed, and will bring Crowley’s total ATB fleet to 14, (four 155,000-barrel and 10 185,000-barrel ATBs).