First vessels to be named in Pittsburgh in 30 years

   Campbell Transportation will christen two newly built towboats and a drydock on June 25, marking the first new vessel construction in Pittsburgh in 30 years.
   The drydock was partially built with a small shipyard grant from the U.S Maritime Administration and constructed at the Campbell Transportation shipyard in Congo, W.Va. The construction of the two towboats at the Campbell shipyard in Dunlevy, Pa. also benefitted indirectly from stimulus money provided through MarAd in 2009 for new industrial fabrication.
   The two new towboats will be named the Renee Lynn and Alice Jean.
   “We think it is a fitting tribute to their years of service that these workboats will service the Pittsburgh region and beyond for many years to come, pushing cargoes like coal to help fuel the utilities and businesses on which our economy depends, and creating jobs,” said Peter Stephaich, Campbell’s chairman and chief executive officer, in a statement.