La. firm contracts for hybrid tugs

Harbor Docking and Towing of Lake Charles, La., has contracted with Washburn & Doughty of East Boothbay, Maine, to design and build two 93-foot by 38-foot hybrid Z-drive tugs. The hull is a proven design with 18 tugs in operation and four under construction. The vessel will be built as a harbor assist vessel as defined in USCG Subchapter M and measure less than 200 gross U.S. regulatory tonnage. Caterpillar Marine will provide a “stem-to-stern” Cat content hybrid propulsion system, with support from both Milton Cat and Louisiana Cat. The hybrid propulsion system scope includes twin 3512E main engines, producing 2,550 hp at 1,800 rpm, each, two C18 generator sets, sparking 565 kW of electrical power, a C7.1 generator set, producing 200 kW of electrical power, shaft lines, MTA 628 azimuth drives with cu-ni-al bronze 2800 mm propellers and water-cooled thruster motors . (Source: Work Boat 01/19/18)