Crowley Maritime’s ship assist and escort services group has agreed to charter its third Tier IV ship assist tug, Athena.
Slated to operate in Puget Sound, Athena was under construction in the fall and is expected to be complete by the end of 2021, the company said in a November statement.
“Athena will provide innovation and performance for customers in the Pacific Northwest,” Crowley Shipping Vice President Paul Manzi said. “The first two tugs produced by Diversified Marine and Brusco Tug & Barge have delivered high value and performance to our fleet. They provide a remarkable amount of power in a small footprint while reducing fuel burn and qualifying for Tier IV emissions performance rating.”
According to Crowley, the vessel meets U.S. EPA Tier IV requirements for emissions control technology. Athena will be equipped with remote monitoring for the improved efficiency of vessel operations and data exchange to further the company’s commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of its fleet.
She follows sister ships Hercules and Apollo from builder Diversified Marine and owner Brusco Tug & Barge. The 77-foot Athena will feature almost 400 more horsepower than Apollo to deliver a bollard pull up to 96 tons, making it among the most powerful tugs for its size in the U.S., according to Crowley.
“Athena is going to be a head-turner in the industry,” Diversified Marine Director of Business Development Frank Manning said. “We’re proud of the incredible Hercules Class vessels our partnership with Brusco and Crowley has produced. We’ve worked closely with Crowley to incorporate operator feedback into each build while increasing horsepower on each tug. Athena will be an excellent boat, and we’re excited to see it working for a forward-thinking company
like Crowley.”